Rich Toward God

I continually have to ask myself if my life’s motivation is to build my barns or if I am building God’s barns by investing in the Lord’s kingdom and not foolishly obsessing over my own kingdom. Before the barn story in Luke 12, Jesus dealt with two brothers who were bickering over their inheritance. The Lord used this conflict to illustrate a heart of greed. Wealth’s seduction can simultaneously cause us to focus on the need for stuff while minimizing the need we feel for God.

If I act like I am the owner of my possessions, then the acquisition of more possessions becomes my motivation. But if I live like the Lord is the owner of my stuff and I am his steward, then the distribution of his possessions becomes my passion. Generosity starves greed and casts out our fears. As followers of Jesus, if we focus on becoming more like generous Jesus, others will look to learn about following their generous Savior. Being rich toward God is valuing what God values over ourselves.

What does it mean to be rich toward God? It means to treasure what he treasures: our relationship with him, lost souls, love, and compassion for hurting human beings. To be rich toward God is to be rich in good deeds, generosity, and relationships. A few years after Christ’s salient story of barn building and learning to be rich toward God, Paul challenged an emerging leader, Timothy, to command the rich in how to be rich toward God (1 Timothy 6:17–19).

We are not meant to strive after wealth but to strive after God and share his blessings with others. This passage encourages us to view wealth as much more than security but as a tool to bless others. We can start by doing good wherever we can, actively looking for ways to serve and support those around us. This could be as simple as helping a neighbor or giving to a cause close to our heart. By choosing generosity, we’re investing in something eternal beyond what money can buy.

Wealth can easily lead to arrogance or false security, but God calls us to humble dependence on him, knowing that he alone is the source of our blessings. When we’re generous and willing to share, we experience “the life that is truly life”—a life of freedom, joy, and lasting purpose that reflects God’s heart.

Heavenly Father, inspire and instruct me to be rich toward you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.