Expert: Joe Norman - 5/31/2011

Question
Hi Joe,
 Your answers to the Biblical questions put before you certainly attest to your knowledge of the scriptures. My friend says that she thinks; you have had a higher calling.
 Would you please explain Luke 12: 13-15, 21. There seems to be some misunderstanding in my household concerning just what these verses and scripture mean?
 Thank you Joe and have a blessed day.

Rosemary McGahee
Liverpool, England

Answer
Hi Rosemary,

Thank you for the compliments and words of encouragement to me. I pray every day that my answers to people on this site are beneficial and a blessing to all who read what I post. I pray that God is glorified.

I am not sure why there is confusion or misunderstanding in your household concerning the above passages. Those verses are pretty direct and to the point. But I will share my thoughts and hope it helps.

Here are the verses you want me to explain.

Luke 12:13-15
13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14 But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" 15 And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

Luke 12:21 "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Jesus was warning the man not to covet the inheritance his brother received. Coveting usually leads a person to commit sin upon sin upon sin and coveting itself is a sin. What truly matters in our lives is not how much we possess or aquire. What matters most is our relationship with God and how we live our lives in this life. We must strive to help those who are truly in need when we can and strive to save as many lost souls as we can. Our main focus should not be in the possessions and pleasures of this life.

This doesn't mean we shouldn't enjoy our lives or the good things God blesses us with because God wants us to have life and have it more abundantly even now. But we must remain humble and realize everything we have is a blessing from God and we can't take anything with us when we die. Coveting what someone else has causes people to steal or treat the people who have what we are coveting in an evil manner at the least. It can cause some to even murder.

Be rich toward God and don't get all focused on possessions and material things. Don't become obsessed with having a person you are physically attracted to either. King David saw Bathsheba bathing naked and he coveted her - wanted her for himself. He had sex with her and then when he learned she was pregnant by him he tried to manipulate things to hide his sin by bringing her husband back to be intimate with Bathsheba; but he wouldn't lie with her. So he plotted to have her husband killed in battle. Then he took her for his wife.

I am not sure where the confussion and disagreement lies. If my response was not helpful in clearing up the misunderstanding in your household about these verses, please share more specific details regarding the confusion and disagreement and I will do my best to help. If you have new questions or follow up questions please let me know.

In Christian Love, Joe Norman