WATCH OUT!

Passage: Luke 12:13-21

Key verse: 15

NIV

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”(A)

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!(B) This very night your life will be demanded from you.(C) Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’(D)

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”(E)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 (A)Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, (B)“Man, (C)who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, (D)“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, (E)“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, (F)‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my (G)barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up (H)for many years; relax, (I)eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, (J)‘Fool! (K)This night (L)your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, (M)whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one (N)who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

When a person approached Jesus with a request about an inheritance dispute, Jesus did not take on the case. Rather, Jesus took the time to deplore the desire to accumulate more and more material things. We not only spend a lot of money but a lot of time to research and look at the newest clothes, accessories, or technology and to protect and manage our wealth and possessions. Jesus said to “watch out!” and “be on your guard against all kinds of greed.” Jesus warns that when we die, we cannot take anything we have with us.

Economics says that we have unlimited wants. When we feel like we are not enough we always want more. What we really need is more valuable than wealth and possessions. We need to know God’s love for us and for others. What if instead of purchasing the next thing, we invest in doing good towards others; volunteering, giving, and growing in love towards others. Jesus told the Pharisees who focused so much on outward appearance and purity to give generously to the poor, and everything will be clean (Lk 11:41). We should invest in growing in relationship with our Father God, through experiencing his grace and love in our lives and sharing it with others.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be rich in your love for me and rich toward all who are suffering. Forgive me for my materialism and help me to practice giving more generously.

One Word: Be rich toward God.