OUR DAILY BREAD: AFFLUENZA

[cimi]

July 12
Thursday


AFFLUENZA

READ:
Luke 12:31-21
___________________________

Take heed and beware
of covetousness,
for one's life does
not consist in the
abundance of the
things he possesses.
__Luke 12:15
____________________________

As people in affluent societies stock up on Blackberrys and flat-panel TVs, it's hard to deny the increasing wealth in many parts of the world. You might call it "affluenza." There is anxiety, however, amid so much prosperity. It is the economic "puzzle of our time," said Robert J. Samuelson in The Washington Post, I wonder if this is true because we are attempting to find security in "more stuff" __stuff that is temporary and fleeting.

The Bible calls the pursuit of more stuff "greed." Jesus warned His followiers about greed by telling a story about a rich man. The problem with this rich man was not that he had an abundance of bumper crops, or that he decided to build more storage space (Luke 12:16-18). The problem was that he invested his entire life in his possessions (v.15). He drew his security from his material goods and failed to be "rich toward God' (v.2). Rejecting the knowledge and precepts of God as the basis for life made him a fool. He was living for the moment while presuming on the future (vv.19-20).

The "good life" cannot be found in things. Instead of seeking our security by acquiring "more stuff," may we find true satisfaction by investing our resources and our lives in and for His kingdom. __Marvin Williams
____________________________________________________________

~~~~~~~~~He possessed all the world had to give him,~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~He had reached every coveted goal;~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~But, alas, his life was a failure,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~For he had forgotten his soul. __Denison~~~~~~~~~~~
____________________________________________________________

Poverty of purpose is worse than poverty of purse.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 12:13-21************

13 Then one from the
crowd said to Him,
"Teacher, tell my brother to
divide the inheritance with
me."

14 But He said to him,
"Man, who made Me a
judge or an arbitrator over
you?" 15 And He said to
them, "Take heed and
beware of covetousness, for
one's life does not consist
in the abundance of the
things he possesses."

16 Then He spoke a parable
to them, saying: "The
ground of a certain rich
man yielded plentifully.

17 And he thought within
himself, saying, 'What shall
I do, since I have no room
to store my crops?'

18 "So he said, 'I will do
this: I will pull down my
barns and build greater, and
there I will store all my
crops and my goods. 19 And
I will say to my soul, "Soul,
you have many goods laid
up for many years; take
your ease, eat, drink, and be
merry."'

20 "But God said to him,
'Fool! This night your
soul will be required of
you; then whose will those
things be which you have provided?'

21 "So is he who lays up
treasure for himself, and is
not rich toward God."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The word translated "heed" in Luke 12:15 means "to see with the
mind and perceive." In this verse, beware carries with it the idea "to
gaurd in order to protect." This vigilant perspective is to safeguard
the heart from the various ways that materialistic desire can distract
the human soul from eternal values. __HDF