November 25, 2025

Rich Toward God

"This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God."
Luke 12:21 (NIV)

The rich fool had everything except what mattered. His fields produced an amazing harvest. His barns were full to bursting. His retirement plan looked perfect on paper. He had security, success, and years of ease ahead. But God called him a fool. Why? Because he was rich toward himself but poor toward God. He spent his whole life building a kingdom he'd never enjoy.

Being rich toward God means something different than the world teaches. The world measures wealth by your bank account. God measures wealth by your heart. The world asks, "How much have you accumulated?" God asks, "How much have you invested in eternity?" The world celebrates the person who builds bigger barns. God celebrates the person who stores treasure in heaven.

Jesus isn't saying money is evil. He's saying money makes a terrible god. The rich fool's problem wasn't his harvest. It was his heart. Count how many times he uses personal pronouns. "My crops," "my barns," "my grain," "my soul." He talks to himself, plans for himself, lives for himself. He never once talks to God or thinks about others. His wealth became his worship.

Here's what being rich toward God looks like. It means you use earthly resources for eternal purposes. You give generously because you know you can't take it with you. You invest in people, not just portfolios. You fund God's mission, not just your comfort. You store treasure where thieves can't steal and moths can't destroy. You build a legacy that lasts beyond your last breath.

The tragedy is how close the fool came. He had resources God could have used powerfully. He could have fed the hungry. He could have blessed his community. He could have advanced God's kingdom. Instead, he built bigger barns for himself. On the night he died, all his planning meant nothing. Someone else got everything he stored up. His life was wasted on temporary things.

Godseekers, you get to choose what kind of rich you'll be. Will you be rich in possessions but poor in purpose? Or will you be rich toward God? The choice shows up in small moments. When you decide where to give. When you choose what to keep. When you ask yourself, "Am I building my kingdom or God's?" Your wealth isn't the issue. Your worship is. Make sure you're investing in what lasts forever.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I worship You as the source of every good gift. You give seed to the sower and bread for food. Forgive me for the times I've been rich toward myself but poor toward You. Forgive me for hoarding instead of sharing. Forgive me for building my kingdom instead of Yours. Open my eyes to see wealth the way You do. Show me where I can invest in eternity today. Give me a generous heart that reflects Your generous nature. Help me store treasure in heaven where it truly counts. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Personal Reflection

If God examined my life today, would He find me rich toward myself or rich toward Him?
What would change if I measured my wealth by eternal impact instead of earthly accumulation?