"Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Lk 12:15)

Jesus said this when He was asked by a man to arbitrate over the division of inheritance between his brother and him. Jesus rightfully asked, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" Perhaps the father of this family had passed away without leaving a will and so, in the eyes of some people, Jesus was the best candidate to be arbitrator.

However, Jesus saw the greed in this man’s intention; therefore He refused the request.

In the story of the Prodigal Son, Jesus also used the division of inheritance as the main topic. The younger son squandered his share of the family’s fortune and fell into desperation. Thankfully, the father overlooked his young son’s mistakes and gave him a second chance.

Jesus reminds us that we must strive for a healthy balance between our pursuit of worldly possessions and spirituality in our lives. We must constantly be on our guard against the allure of greed.