(Part 2)
“Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’-Luke 12:16-19
In the story of the rich farmer, the story begins with the farmer taking inventory of the massive harvest that he had accumulated. It appears that, prior to planting, the farmer did not adequately evaluate his ability to house such a harvest. He did not address his storage issue until he had more possessions than he could manage. Only then did he turn his attention on where he would store it.
His answer was to increase his capacity to hold more earthly possessions. It appears as if it never crossed his mind to use his excess to lay up treasures in heaven, that is to be rich towards God. Rather he chose to increase his earthly capacity to receive possessions. In a very stern rebuke, God address the farmer because of this in Luke 12:20-21:
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Although, the old adage is true, regarding earthly wealth-“You can’t take it with you.” We can use our earthly possessions to lay up treasures in our eternal account. Jesus made this profound statement in Matthew 6:21:
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Jesus tells us that where we store our treasure is where our heart is. If we store all our treasure on earth. That is where are hearts will be. If we store all our treasure in heaven, that is where our hearts will be. Having predetermined where are treasure will go, says more about our spiritual maturity than what we actually possess. It changes the way that we look at possessions.
One of my favorite television shows to watch is American Pickers. One of the things I hear on the show that Mike Wolf often says when rummaging through the mounds of relics in people’s barns and garages is this “He/She really had an eye for what would be valuable one day.” Meaning they could look at something and see value in it, when others did not.
It’s interesting that when talking about possessions Jesus said this:
“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! 24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”-Matthew 6:22-24
My New Spirit Filled Life Bible had a great commentary on this passage: “The person with a good (healthy) eye is one whose intent is to serve God and not money (Mammon-god of materialism). The person with the bad eye is selfish, covetous, and miserly. The one who looks at possessions properly, their life is full of light, life, meaning and purpose. The other’s life is plunged into darkness devoid of meaning.
It is interesting how two people can look at the same thing, but depending on “where their treasure is” will see the item differently. Example: Someone has a car they are looking to give away and asks if you know anyone that could use it.
1. Person #1 may look at it and say, “I’ll take it.” They already have a car and a one car garage. But upon receiving it they decide to build another garage to house their newly received blessing.
2. Person #2 recognizing they already have a car, begin looking for someone else to give the car to that could truly use it.
One person is padding their earthly account the other is investing in their heavenly account. That person has an eye for that which is going to bless God and bless others. They understand what true heavenly treasure looks like and see the value in it, even when others don’t. We need to develop an eye for what is eternally valuable.
Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
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