Are You Making the Gospel About You?
Series: Saving & Investing Wisely
Devotional: 2 of 3
[Jesus] told [His disciples] this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21
Last week, we began a series examining this parable to determine exactly what the rich man did wrong to be considered a fool. The first reason was that he thought only about himself. He did not consider what God desired nor did he take a second to think about how he could bless others.
Let’s take a look at another mistake that this rich man made…
He lived independently from God
God has a greater purpose for our money than making our lives comfortable and easy. In fact he also has a greater purpose for it than allowing us to live the “good life.”
Part of my personal financial testimony began with me pursuing financial independence. I wanted to have enough money either passively coming in or have saved up enough money so that I no longer had to depend on anyone for my livelihood.
I searched for verses throughout the Bible that helped support my position. I found such verses like…
Ephesians 3:20 – Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Malachi 3:10 – Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Number 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
I took verses like these and used them to build my case that God wanted to bless me and give me wealth and financial independence.
But there were two main issues with this concept…
- I was trying to get to a point where I was no longer dependent on anyone – including God
- I made the Gospel all about myself and what I desired
God does desire to bless us, and that is not wrong. But his blessings often look WIDLY different than what we think they should look like. In fact, many times, God takes away the things that we have our minds focused on in order that we may focus our attention on him.
The rich man was a fool because he thought he could live independently from God.
God is no doubt the giver of life and the one who provides blessings, but He is much more than that. He is a loving Father who knows what is best for us… He gives and yet he also takes away. Not to punish you, but to steer you in the right direction – toward him.
Your Friend,
Katie Jones
Reflection Questions
- Are you trying to build a life independent from God? How is that working out for you?
- How do you respond when things don’t go your way? (e.g. if you don’t get that job, raise, or investment return you were praying for?) Do you blame God?
- In what other ways might you be making the Gospel about yourself? Do you view God only as the source and provider of life and blessings?
- Consider the current trials you are facing right now – have you taken time to ask God what he may be trying to teach you?
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