"In GOD We Trust"

 

Luke 12:15-21 "And HE said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And HE spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits ? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul. Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But GOD said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided ? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward GOD."

     According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, "The motto 'In GOD We Trust' was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. . . .Since 1938, all United States coins bear the inscription." But, for how many people is that motto true in our nation today ? In JESUS' day, HE spoke a parable about a "certain rich man" (v.16) for which that motto would not have been true. As the short account indicates, this man was trusting in his accumulated riches and planned to retire early in leisure. Then GOD proclaimed these sobering WORDs: "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided ?" (v.20). The man was wealthy because of the bountiful yields from his fields and by the amassing of many possessions. He was trusting in his riches, living a life of ease, and congratulating himself in his wisdom that so bountifully provided for his future life. Because of his wealth, he assumed he was immune from evil and an untimely death. But GOD told him otherwise.

     King Solomon was a man of great wisdom and riches because of the LORD's favor upon him. Yet he undertook an experiment to determine if wisdom, wealth, and pleasures could provide him with true peace, joy, and satisfaction apart from GOD. What was there under the light of the sun that would completely satisfy the inner hunger of his soul ? His answer in Ecclesiastes was this: "All was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 2:11 pictured above). Riches, even your retirement package, profit you nothing apart from the LORD. "In GOD We Trust" -- do you really ? JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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