Daily Scripture

'...he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’'  (Luke 12:15-20)

Daily Reflection

'Greed is Good' was a slogan in the Eighties, but here Jesus shows it up for what it really is; ultimately senseless and ridiculous, as no one can bring their riches with them beyond the grave. The will to amass and to have more than we need is as old as it is human. Deep genetic memories of famine and scarcity of resources make us want to store up and stash away. But holding on to what we have makes us hard hearted and inward looking. God wants us to have open hands and open hearts, so that he can fill our inner store houses, making us rich with an abundance of love and life, not material possessions. These are true riches and bring true happiness.

Revd Ylva