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Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to
share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who
appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the
crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be
rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Luke
12:13–15
What’s interesting in Jesus’ statement is that of all the people
who ever walked the earth, no one is more worthy to be a “judge and
arbitrator” of an injustice than Jesus Himself. Yet He refuses to
intervene. Why is that? It appears to be a just request from the
person, but instead of intervening Jesus tells a parable about
greed.
Material possessions can be very seductive. That’s a fact. Yet many
people have a very hard time admitting their attachment to
possessions and money. They rationalize that they have worked hard,
have earned what they have and should be able to indulge a bit.
Some good-minded people who have many possessions appease their
consciences by giving a small portion of what they have to
charitable causes and then conclude that they can keep the rest for
themselves. But what does Jesus think about that?
In and of themselves, material possessions are neither good nor
bad. The problem is the sin of greed. Greed is an interior
disposition by which a person becomes more attached to the passing
things of this world than they are to God and His holy will. Though
it might be possible to have many possessions and still remain
interiorly detached from them, this is quite difficult. But having
possessions is not the ultimate problem. Desiring possessions is
the real problem. Therefore, even those with very little can fall
into the same trap by becoming attached to what they do not have
and by believing that the attainment of more will satisfy.
Jesus refused to act as “judge and arbitrator” in this case because
it was clear to Him that the person making the request was
struggling with greed. Jesus was far more concerned about this
person's interior attachments than He was about the inheritance
being properly shared. Earthly justice means very little from the
perspective of eternity. This may be hard for many to understand
and accept. Doesn’t justice demand fairness? Not if the desire to
be treated fairly is based on some sin such as greed. In that case,
it is far better for the soul to be cheated out of their
inheritance than it is to receive their fair share. In fact, if a
person does struggle with greed, one of the best things for their
soul might be to be cheated out of their own possessions. This will
only be understood when we see that spiritual riches are infinitely
greater than material riches.
Reflect, today, upon your interior desires. Look at them honestly.
What do you desire the most in life? Do you dream of becoming rich?
If so, does that desire consume much of your thinking? Reflect upon
the scenario in which you were supposed to receive a very large
inheritance but were cheated out of it. How would you react? The
right reaction would be to care more for the soul of the person who
cheated you than to care about actually being cheated. A person who
is fully detached from material possessions will care little about
losing such an inheritance or gaining one. It will truly matter
not. If that is hard to accept, know that this is a sign that your
soul is too attached to the things of this world. Pray for freedom
from all greed. That is the only way to obtain the true riches of
God.
Most generous Lord, You bestow mercy in superabundance. Your
grace and love are all I need in life. By obtaining You and Your
mercy, I obtain the one and only source of fulfillment in life.
Please free me from earthly greed, and help me to see the things of
this world as You see them. Jesus, I trust in You.
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