Where Your Treasure Lies

The scene opens with a dispute over inheritance - a matter as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago. But Jesus, with divine wisdom, sees beyond the surface conflict to the heart issue that threatens both brothers: greed. In response, He tells one of His most sobering parables, a story that cuts through our material obsessions and calls us to examine where we place our trust and hope.

The Deception of Security

The rich man in Jesus' parable had everything our culture tells us we need for happiness and security. His barns were full, his future seemed assured, and he had earned the right to "eat, drink and be merry." Yet Jesus calls him a fool. Why?

The man's foolishness lay not in his wealth, but in three fatal assumptions:

First, he assumed his life was his own to control. "I will tear down... I will build... I will store... I will say to myself..." Notice the repeated "I will." This man had forgotten that every breath, every heartbeat, every moment is a gift from God. He planned as though he were master of his own destiny.

Second, he assumed his security came from his possessions. His solution to abundance was simply more storage. But no barn is big enough to contain the human heart's longing for true security, which can only be found in God.

Third, he assumed he had unlimited time. "Many years," he said. But God said, "This very night." How often we live as though we have forever to get our priorities straight, to invest in what truly matters.

The Heart of the Matter

Jesus' warning rings clear: "Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." This isn't a condemnation of wealth itself, but of the heart that finds its identity, security, and purpose in material things.

The parable forces us to ask uncomfortable questions: What are we building our lives around? Where do we find our sense of worth and security? If God were to call us home tonight, what would we have invested in that has eternal value?

Rich Toward God

The contrast Jesus draws is stark: we can store up things for ourselves, or we can be "rich toward God." Being rich toward God means:

Investing in relationships - with God and with others

Using our resources to serve God's kingdom and love our neighbors

Cultivating gratitude instead of greed

Building treasures in heaven through acts of love, mercy, and justice

Finding our identity in being children of God, not in what we own

A Call to Examine Our Hearts

This parable isn't just about money - it's about the fundamental orientation of our hearts. We can be greedy with time, attention, love, or recognition just as easily as with money. The question is: What do we truly treasure?

Jesus invites us to a different way of living. Instead of asking "How can I get more?" we can ask "How can I give more?" Instead of seeking security in our accumulations, we can find it in our relationship with the One who holds all things in His hands.

Conclusion

The rich man's barns were full, but his soul was empty. His possessions were secure, but his heart was not at peace. He had gained the world but was in danger of losing his soul.

Let us not be like this man. Let us instead heed Jesus' words and guard against greed in all its forms. Let us remember that we are not owners but stewards, not masters but servants. And let us invest in what truly matters - love for God and neighbor, mercy for the broken, hope for the lost.

For where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also. May our hearts be found rich toward God.

Amen.