We want what we don't have.

We want what we don’t have (The rich fool, Luke 12:13-21)
When did it stop being ok to be happy for someone when they receive a blessing or promotion in their life? At some point in time our society developed the mentality that if someone else is receiving something nice then we must be missing out. They are getting the promotion we deserve; they are moving into the home we should have, that new car is the one we should be driving, and that vacation is the one we have dreamed of. Why can’t we simply just be happy that someone else is being blessed? Our parable (Luke 12:13-21) begins with an individual coming to Jesus because he wanted Jesus to convince is brother the right thing to do was to split the family inheritance with him. In that culture, the first born would receive a double portion of inheritance AND scholars believe this did not set well with the younger brother who did not like the fact his brother was going to get more than him. Jesus simply refuses to get involved in a civil dispute among brothers and gets to the heart of the issue, the man asking the question, heart was full of greed. The remainder of the parable deals with a man who worked hard to grow wealth only to fill his barns the very night he achieved what he wanted he died, so he labored in vain and missed out on the treasures of heaven trying to enjoy the treasures of earth.
1 Timothy 6:10 let us know that the love of earthly treasures is the basis of evil desires, the pursuit of earthly riches will lead our heart away from God. Jesus let us know that the Kingdom of God works on a different currency than the currency of this world when in verse 21 He says that the man seeking riches was rich in this world but no rich toward God. The children of the Kingdom of God happily rejoice with those who rejoice and broken heartedly weep with those weeping. (Romans 12:15) We can do this because our hearts desires are not tied up in our monetary value but instead in the reconciliation work of the Father. Our hearts are now full of sacrificial love towards our fellow man as Jesus commanded us to do in John 13:34; love one another as I have loved you. We realize life is not a competition to compete for the biggest house, prettiest car, high paying job, or fame; life is about finding the will of the Father for your life and leading others in that same direction. It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking you are working hard towards what your family wants and needs but, you are really working hard separating your heart from God. Do not make this mistake.