Day 13: Behind Greed
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Transcript
We don’t know the details, but for whatever reason, one day when Jesus was teaching, someone interrupted him with a request. Hoping Jesus could help with a family dispute, “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me’” (Luke 12:13).
Back in that day, it was common for most of an inheritance to be passed down to the oldest brother. So maybe this guy had a legitimate reason to complain. Maybe he was thinking, If you knew my older brother, you’d know he doesn’t deserve anything! Or perhaps, I don’t understand why my family won’t divide our inheritance evenly!
But as he often did, Jesus took the opportunity to teach a lesson rather than grant a wish. He issued a warning—likely because he knew the man’s heart wasn’t focused on justice or fairness. It was focused on the same thing most everyone drifts toward: greed.
In response to the man’s question, Jesus addressed the whole crowd.
““Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.””
The word “greed” in this passage comes from a Greek term which literally means “the desire for more.” And it’s not just about wealth—it’s about an insatiable hunger, or appetite, for something we think will make us complete… something we don’t have.
Greed is sneaky. It’s not just about stockpiling wealth. Greed can look like ambition or even security. At its core, greed whispers the lie that we don’t have enough. It’s rooted in fear—fear of running out of something, of losing control, of missing out, of having to depend on others, or not being enough.
But Jesus modeled the way for us to follow. His way has nothing to do with how much we have, but on what we prioritize. It’s about having a life not marked by accumulation, but by generosity.
“Heavenly Father,
Remind me that true life isn’t found in having more. Help me to be content, generous, and free from the fear of not having enough. Amen.”
