Possessions

Covetousness. The Rich Fool. Be not anxious.

(The Gospel History, Section 99)

And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Commentary by J. R. Dummelow

Lk 12:15. For a man’s life] The Gk. is difficult and the translation doubtful, but the sense seems to be that neither a man’s physical nor his spiritual life is dependent upon great possessions. A healthy and happy human life can be lived in a state of comparative poverty, and spiritual life is rather hindered than aided by great possessions. Others understand it to mean that a man’s life is not like a possession, but infinitely more valuable. Cp. below (v. 23), ‘the life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.’

Possessions

(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book IV Poem XLVI

What are possessions that ye overprize
But make-believe of life, that on yourselves
Ye practise, diligent? Pharisees, all,
While ye believe wealth, possessions,
Have any part in your life, make glad or sad
The heart of man: Ye fools and dull of soul,
Your mind makes its own values; think things dross,
And straight they dross become: a pebble, see,
Is cheap or precious as ye think it so;
Sit loose to your possessions; fix your love
On things eternal; he who thirsts for God
Hath chosen riches that shall cleave to him
In this world and another; he hath life,—
The one possession proper to a man.
Take heed, I bid you, see ye covet not!

St. Luke xii. 15.

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