Jesus warns us about covetousness. "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15) Jesus then gives the parable of the rich farmer. (Luke 12:16-21) A farmer, whose crops produced abundantly, had so much that he tore down his old barns and built bigger ones to store all his crops. He was looking forward to a life of ease for years to come. The text says, "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided." (Luke 12:20) So, how was the rich farmer displaying covetousness?
One way was by desiring earthly possessions more than desiring God. The text says, "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:21) This man was not rich toward God. Physically this man had great abundance but did not have God. He was more concerned with his physical life than he was about his spiritual life. A spiritually minded person is concerned with the things that please God, but the worldly man is not. (Romans 8:8) A man who has God in his life is rich. A rich man without God in his life is poor indeed.
Later in the same chapter, the text states, "Then He said to His disciples, therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them; Of how much more value are you than the birds?" (12:22-24) Birds don't build storehouses and barns. If God takes care of the birds, then He will take care of you even though you may not have barns full of food to eat. (12:24) God should be first in our life and not physical possessions. When we seek (12:30) to put earthly possessions first in our life, we are not rich toward God. (12:21) In Luke 12:31 it says, "But seek the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you." In Matthew 6:33 it states, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God ..." God comes first. Spiritual things come first. Being rich toward God comes first. If we put the physical things first above God, then we are idolaters. Paul said, "Therefore put to death your members which are upon the earth fornication ... and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)
Another way the rich farmer displayed covetousness was by refusal to help the poor which was required by the Law of Moses. The rich farmer hoarded all his possessions for himself even when he could have easily helped others since he had been prospered so abundantly by God. (1 Corinthians 16:2) His covetous spirit stole what, according to God's law of love, belonged to the poor man.
Many today display covetousness because they think only of their own physical comfort and are not rich toward God. For the worldly minded to use one day a week (Sunday) to worship God is asking too much of them. Covetousness is displayed when there is no love in our hearts to help our neighbors. What fills the barns in your life? Are they full of the fruits of your covetousness? Or are they full of love for God and your fellowman?