The first time I was driven through the tornado-affected areas of Marshalltown, and got out of the truck and walked among the rubble, many were the thoughts spinning around in my mind. It was just too much to process.

Nonetheless, a prevailing word of the Lord repeatedly came to mind.

“for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

I was in the midst of a devastated community’s chaos, rejoicing greatly in the fact that no lives had been lost – praise the Lord! – and, yet, I still felt very overwhelmed by what I saw. Many of the people’s belongings were broken, strewn about and ruined.

When I felt a lump rising in my throat, I admit, I was startled by my own emotions.

I reasoned to myself: “Yes, it’s a big, and very overwhelming, mess. But, still, it’s only stuff. Why be emotional about material possessions when I’m so thankful that their loved ones are still with them?”

“for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

Suddenly, it dawned on me: I recalled how difficult it had been, just recently, for JC & me to part with the majority of our possessions in order to walk the trail with only a few, seemingly-critical-for-survival items.

The word of God challenges us to think, and consider things from His point of view.

I knew the statement I was recalling came from Jesus, the Son of God; but, I didn’t know in what book of the holy bible it could be found, or of what specific situation Jesus had been speaking.

A couple of days passed before I settled down, in a quiet moment and place, and found it.

Luke 12:13-21 NASB

Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”

And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: 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 many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’

So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”