"Consumed by a Craving for More"

Presented on November 23, 2025

Main text: Luke 12:13-21

Preached by Pastor Rich Chasse

Day 1: The Dangerous Craving

Devotional

We live in a world that constantly whispers, "More will make you happy." From social media ads to conversations with friends, the message is clear: accumulate, upgrade, acquire. But Jesus offers a radically different perspective that cuts through our culture's obsession with stuff. When someone approached Jesus about an inheritance dispute, He could have simply mediated the conflict. Instead, He seized this moment to address something far more dangerous than a family disagreement—the human heart's tendency toward greed. His warning wasn't a gentle suggestion but an urgent alarm: "Take care and be on guard." Think about that phrase for a moment. Jesus used the language of a soldier standing watch, alert to incoming threats. He's telling us that covetousness isn't just a minor character flaw—it's a spiritual enemy that requires constant vigilance. The craving for more doesn't announce itself with fanfare; it creeps in quietly, disguising itself as reasonable desires and practical planning. The beautiful truth is that Jesus cares enough about our hearts to warn us. He knows that when we chase after possessions for security, identity, or happiness, we're actually running away from the very thing our souls truly need—Him. Every warning in Scripture comes wrapped in love, pointing us toward freedom rather than restriction. Today, consider what "more" you've been craving. Is it a bigger house, a newer car, the latest gadget, or perhaps just a little more in your savings account? Jesus isn't asking you to live in poverty, but He is inviting you to examine your heart's true desires.

Bible Verse

"Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." - Luke 12:15 (Read Luke 12:13-21)

Reflection Question

What "more" have you been craving lately, and how might this desire be affecting your relationship with God and others?

Prayer

Lord, help me recognize the subtle ways greed creeps into my heart. Give me the wisdom to distinguish between legitimate needs and the dangerous craving for more. Guard my heart against covetousness and help me find my security in You alone. Amen.

Day 2: The Fool's Mirror

Devotional

Nobody wants to be called a fool, especially not by God. Yet in Jesus' parable, a successful businessman—someone our culture would celebrate—receives this harsh verdict from heaven. What made him foolish wasn't his lack of intelligence or business acumen, but something far more fundamental. The rich man's internal monologue reveals everything: "I will tear 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.'" Count the personal pronouns—I, my, I, my, I. His entire worldview revolved around himself. But here's what's most chilling: God wasn't absent from this man's life. The text says "God said to him." This wasn't someone who had never heard of God; this was someone who had heard but chose to live as if God didn't matter. The fool's defining characteristic isn't ignorance—it's saying "No, God" in his heart. We might think we're different, but how often do we make plans without consulting God? How frequently do we refer to "my" house, "my" car, "my" money, "my" future, as if we're the ultimate owners? The rich fool's mirror reflects our own tendency to live as practical atheists—acknowledging God with our lips while ignoring Him in our daily decisions. The tragedy isn't that he was wealthy, but that his wealth became his god. He trusted in his barns instead of his Creator, in his goods instead of God's goodness.

Bible Verse

"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity." - Ecclesiastes 5:10 (Read Ecclesiastes 5:10-19)

Reflection Question

In what areas of your life are you making plans and decisions without consulting God, essentially saying "No, God" in your heart?

Prayer

Father, forgive me for the times I've lived as if You don't matter. Help me remember that everything I have belongs to You. Give me wisdom to include You in all my planning and decision-making. I don't want to be a fool who ignores Your voice. Amen.

Day 3: The Three Warning Signs

Devotional

Sometimes the most dangerous traps are the ones we don't see coming. Greed rarely announces itself with obvious signs; instead, it disguises itself as prudent planning, reasonable desires, or justified rewards for hard work. But there are warning signs that reveal when our relationship with possessions has become unhealthy. The first warning sign is when our self-esteem becomes tied to our possessions. We start believing that having nicer things makes us better people, or that our worth is somehow connected to our net worth. This creates an endless cycle because there's always someone with more, always something newer to acquire. The second warning sign is when our security rests in our bank account rather than in God's provision. While it's wise to save and plan, when our peace of mind depends entirely on our financial portfolio, we've crossed a dangerous line. We begin to trust in uncertain riches rather than the God who richly provides. The third warning sign is the most subtle: when we stop seeing our possessions as gifts from God and start viewing them as truly "ours." This shift in perspective changes everything—how we spend, how we save, how we give, and how we relate to others. Recognizing these warning signs isn't meant to create guilt but to offer freedom. When we catch ourselves falling into these patterns, we can course-correct. We can remember that our identity comes from being God's beloved children, our security comes from His faithful provision, and our possessions are tools He's entrusted to us for His purposes. God wants to free us from the exhausting pursuit of more so we can enjoy the abundant life He offers.

Bible Verse

"But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction." - 1 Timothy 6:9 (Read 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19)

Reflection Question

Which of these three warning signs do you most recognize in your own life, and what practical steps can you take to address it?

Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to see the warning signs of greed in my own heart. Help me find my identity in You, my security in Your provision, and view my possessions as gifts from Your hand. Free me from the trap of always wanting more. Amen.

Day 4: Planning to Let Go

Devotional

One of the most liberating truths we can embrace is this: we're not taking any of it with us. Every possession we accumulate, every dollar we save, every treasure we store up on earth will one day belong to someone else. This isn't a depressing thought—it's a freeing one. When we truly internalize that we're temporary stewards rather than permanent owners, it changes everything. We stop clinging so tightly to our stuff. We become more generous because we realize we're just moving money from one account to another—from our earthly account to our heavenly one. Planning to lose it or leave it behind doesn't mean being careless or irresponsible. It means holding our possessions with open hands, ready to use them for God's purposes rather than hoarding them for our own security. It means making decisions based on eternal values rather than temporary comfort. This perspective also protects us from pride. When we remember that everything we have is a gift from God, we can't look down on those who have less. Their worth isn't determined by their possessions any more than ours is. We're all equal recipients of God's grace, regardless of our bank account balance. The wealthy man in Jesus' parable forgot this fundamental truth. He planned as if he would live forever, as if his barns would always be his, as if his goods would always bring him security. But God reminded him of reality: "This night your soul is required of you." When we plan with eternity in mind, we invest in things that last. We prioritize relationships over possessions, character over comfort, and God's kingdom over our own empire.

Bible Verse

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring." - James 4:13 (Acts 5:1-11)

Reflection Question

How would your spending, saving, and giving habits change if you truly believed you were just a temporary steward of God's resources?

Prayer

Father, help me hold my possessions with open hands, remembering that I'm just a steward of what belongs to You. Give me wisdom to plan responsibly while keeping eternity in view. Help me invest in things that will last forever. Amen.

Day 5: The Joy of Generosity

Devotional

There's something magical that happens when we shift from accumulating to giving. Instead of constantly asking "How can I get more?" we start asking "How can I give more?" This isn't just a nice idea—it's a pathway to genuine joy and freedom. Generosity breaks the spell of greed. When we give freely, we prove to ourselves and to God that our possessions don't possess us. We demonstrate that our security comes from Him, not from our stuff. Every act of generosity is a declaration of faith: "I trust God to provide for my needs." But here's the beautiful paradox: the more we give, the more we receive—not necessarily in material terms, but in joy, purpose, and spiritual richness. God promises to bless our generosity, not so we can accumulate more for ourselves, but so we can be even more generous. It's a wonderful cycle of blessing. Leading with generosity means looking for opportunities to bless others before we worry about blessing ourselves. It means giving not reluctantly or under compulsion, but cheerfully, because we've discovered the secret that it's more blessed to give than to receive. This doesn't mean giving foolishly or beyond our means. It means giving thoughtfully, prayerfully, and joyfully. It means seeing our resources as tools for blessing others rather than just securing our own comfort. When we lead with generosity, we become conduits of God's blessing rather than reservoirs. We experience the joy of being used by God to meet needs, answer prayers, and demonstrate His love. There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of knowing you've been a blessing to someone else. This is the antidote to greed: not just avoiding the love of money, but actively loving people through generous giving.

Bible Verse

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." - 2 Corinthians 9:7 (Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15)

Reflection Question

What opportunities for generosity is God placing before you right now, and what's holding you back from acting on them?

Prayer

Lord, transform my heart from one that hoards to one that gives freely. Help me find joy in generosity and see my resources as tools for blessing others. Make me a cheerful giver who leads with generosity in all areas of life. Amen.