Greed Is Closer Than You Think
“Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
Jesus, right after calling out a man’s greed, gives him a warning—He gives us a warning!
He says “Beware!”
If Jesus says “Beware” it should make your ears perk up. Something in us should lean in. This is something you’re going to want to hear.
A few questions might come to mind. If we’re supposed to be on guard against every form of greed, does that mean it’s closer than we think? More subtle than we realize?
I’d argue that it can take root in us without us even noticing.
Here’s the challenge: we hear a warning like this and assume it’s for someone else. We think, “That’s not me—that’s for the ultra-wealthy.” People like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk.
But Jesus doesn’t limit this warning to a certain income bracket.
If anything, His words press even harder on us—on our culture, on our context. In America, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, His words still stand:
“Beware. Be on your guard against all forms of greed.”
If we’re honest, we may struggle with greed more than we think.
Maybe the better question is: Are we actually on guard against it?
Jesus then tells a story about a man who has accumulated so much that he decides to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. He feels secure. He begins to imagine a life of ease, retirement, and comfort.
By most standards, he’s winning.
And yet, God calls him a fool.
Why? Because he assumed he was guaranteed a long life. But that very night, his life is required of him. And everything he stored up—he can’t take with him.
Jesus then says something sobering:
“So is the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
What does it mean to be rich toward God?
One commentator puts it this way:
“Being ‘rich toward God’ means living to glorify God and investing our earthly assets to make an eternal difference.”
It raises an important question:
How are we stewarding what we’ve been given to make an eternal impact?
What should we actually be investing in?
The answer isn’t as complicated as we might think.
The best investments we can make are in what is eternal.
Your formation into the image of Jesus is an eternal investment. Becoming a generous person doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intention. That’s why giving isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a practice that shapes us.
And the second investment is people.
As Peter writes:
“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s grace.”
So what does that look like in real life?
What would you do if you won the lottery today?
It’s easy to imagine all the generous things we would do—buying a home for our parents, giving to a cause, supporting our church. And somewhere in there, we’d probably upgrade our own lives too.
Because having more gives us more options.
But here’s the tension: we often think we have to wait until we have more to become generous.
What if being rich toward God isn’t complicated?
What if it simply looks like being faithful with what’s already in your hands?
Using your gifts to serve others.
Taking a friend out for coffee.
Encouraging someone who’s struggling.
Showing up.
Laughing together.
Crying together.
Making a meal for someone in a hard season.
This is how we invest in eternity.
What we do with Jesus’ warning is up to us.
My prayer is that we would have ears to hear—not just to recognize the warning, but to respond with obedience.
