These days, as in all days, there is the encouragement to want more. More money, more satisfaction, more status, more love, more choices, more power, more achievement, more recognition and fame, more security, more, more, more. We are driven to want more but, for all the attention and effort given to this pursuit, what is it really delivering?
Coach’s Question: What are those things inside and outside of you that particularly grabs your attention to have more of?
This is a particularly interesting subject since the desire for more and better can be a very good thing and yet, when focused out through our own directing, it typically disappoints in the end. So important a subject this is that Jesus addressed it many times while He was in His earth suit as He walked among us. One such address is recorded in the 12th chapter of the book of Luke, where He specifies what our focus should be in this life.
With a great crowd around Him Jesus begins to teach them these things and suddenly someone in the crowd shouts a request to Him to set his brother straight so that he will divide the family inheritance with him. To that, He asks him a question and proceeds to tell everyone “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” This then is followed by a series of stories to illustrate what the kind of abundant life that He brings consists of and what life lived apart from Him ultimately amounts to .
There is much that can be said here but let’s look at what Jesus is saying just in the sentence quoted above. The Greek word for greed is very descriptive. Literally it means: the thirst for having more, always having more and more and still more. (William Hendicksen).
Coach’s Question: What strikes you about Jesus’s statement here, and the story (vs. 15-21) He tells right after it, about the foolish rich man, to drive the point home?
At the conclusion of the story Jesus sums it all up in verse 21 after He asks a powerful question, “So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” Here He indicates that the insatiable desire, and even acquisition of more and more (greed in this case for more material wealth and security but as Jesus said in verse 15 there are all kinds) that is solely focused in the never-lasting, will never bring now what is of an everlasting quality. In contrast, Jesus lays out something that is more than more. Being rich toward God means having a life that is totally oriented toward Him and lived with Him which results in real and everlastingly joyful living.
Jesus then goes on to beautifully describe, in the ensuing teaching and stories, what that life is like and how His Father can be fully depended on to deliver it including taking care of our material needs. In contrast to the enslavement of having to have more, and the worrying about having enough, He underscores His better contrasting way as He says, “Instead, strive for His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” This kingdom is God’s world that He invites anyone, who so desires Him, to come into and under His care and His superintendence, where righteousness, peace, and joy abounds without limit in His Spirit. This is truly what is the “more” than any amount of the “more” that we can bring about and strive for on our own. This “more” Is what God has always intended for you and everyone else who has ever lived and this “more” is something that He gives as an incomparable gift to experience and access more and more now and through endless ages.
So come on, let’s not let anything hold us back from the very best More.
Coach’s Question: What is one thing that you can do this week to connect more with Jesus and His Kingdom that is available now and one thing that you can do to disconnect from anything that might want you to serve it?