And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15
We were amazed at the turnout for the memorial service for Old Harry after he died. Harry had no relatives that we knew about, and had no connection with any organization. And yet, everybody in the community knew and liked him. He didn’t own anything, not even the property on which he had built his tiny shack. One of the farmers had allowed him to build the little dwelling in a clump of bushes next to the road. Harry built it from whatever lumber and supplies he could find at the local dump, and he heated it with a tiny stove that he found at the same dump, using wood that he scrounged from almost anywhere. He had no electricity in the shack, and he collected his water from a nearby brook. Somehow, he survived on his old age pension and whatever the neighbours would give him. Everybody liked him, with his friendly smile and gentle voice. The children loved his delightful stories. Every farmer could tell of Harry stopping by whenever an extra pair of hands was needed, to help with work in the field or with the milking of the cows. He asked for no pay, other than an occasional meal, at which he was always a pleasant guest. When he died, there was absolutely nothing in his shack for anybody to claim, if there had been anyone to claim it. But everybody showed up at his memorial service. Harry was a great example of a person who was so much more than his possessions.
The Lord Jesus warned people around him to beware of covetousness. His warning came just after a man had asked Him to help resolve an inheritance dispute. The man’s biggest concern was getting his hands on some of his father’s possessions. But he was typical of most of humanity, and its desire to get all you can, and can all you get. People measure their success in the number of dollars in their bank account, in the size of their homes, in the extent of their wardrobe, in the number and cost of their cars, and in the lavishness of their toys. But Jesus reminds us that this is not what life is all about. Human nature says it is, but the Lord Jesus sets the record straight in the parable of the rich fool.
The things that we possess do not accompany us beyond the grave; as the old country song says, there is no trailer hitch on a hearse. We arrived into this world naked, and we leave it in clothes that rot in the ground with our mortal remains. What matters when life’s plug is pulled is not the goods that we have gathered for ourselves but the good that we have dispensed to others.
When He died, the Lord Jesus owned nothing but His cross and His crown of thorns. But His life – and death – consisted of compassion and love to others and obedience to His Father’s will. What a great example He sets for us in defeating the sin of covetousness! – Jim MacIntosh