We know rich when we see it. Wall Street and Madison Avenue do a great job of telling us what we need to have and what we knee to be out doing if we’re to be rich. They seduce us to want ever more and more. But, we are not what we own. Jesus tells us in Luke 12 to guard against greed. He tells us plainly that life does not consist of possessions.
Why do we strive so hard to acquire more? You’ve heard those old sayings – “You can’t take it with you.” And “there’s no trailer hitch on a hearse.” These might be cliché, but they’re true. So why do we succumb to greed, to yearn for more stuff? It is draining. It saps us of our energy while increasing the stress in our lives. It is vanity of vanities to toil thus says Qoheleth (Ecc. 1:3).
When it comes to money, isn’t it that we often strive to increase our investment accounts because we worry that we will not have enough to provide for ourselves and our family in the future. That worry is our apprehension rooted in a fear of scarcity. But, we have a God of abundance who loves us and promises to provide for us. Our energies are better directed to seeking His kingdom, trusting Him that He will give us all we need.
Let’s be mindful of how much of our time and energy goes into acquiring possessions. Let’s recognize how this distracts us from putting God first in every area of our lives, striving to be rich in what matters to Him (21).
St Augustine said that “The superfluities of the rich are the necessities of the poor.” So think for a moment – does your spending honor God’s priority and authority in your life? Is your almsgiving a true blessing to the poor? How can you bring yourself and others closer to God by your generosity, by sharing more of your possessions to bless those in need?
Be generous. Give joyfully.
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St. Luke shares how Jesus tells us how generous God is to those who persevere in prayer, “He will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.” (Lk 11:8) I know it can seem sometimes as if God does not hear our prayer, or if He does, He doesn’t answer–at least now how and when we want. But how many times have I looked back and, with hindsight, seen how He did, in fact, answer my prayer. And how often was His answer and timing way better than anything I could have imagined, or known to ask for? I am truly blessed! How wonderful are the blessings He gives. 
We know how St Paul traveled all around the Middle East, Greece and Italy, preaching Jesus Christ. He described his work to the Colossians simply as being a minister in accordance with the stewardship God gave to him. God gave him the knowledge, wisdom, boldness, and fortitude to do that. Paul took ownership of the gifts God gave him. He stewarded those gifts using them to transform the world. What are you steward of?
Here are some Bible sayings you know by heart:
It takes courage to be a disciple. Encountering Jesus causes you to live differently. It is counter-cultural, like being lambs among wolves. We see in the Gospel of Luke 10:1-12 Jesus sending out the seventy-two. He gave them instructions, and then He sent them out with nothing. No money bag. No sandals – lambs among wolves. And yet, they trusted Him. They were resolved and committed to the cause. And they came back triumphant. They were full of joy.