Life Matters–Not Things
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, You have blessed me so very richly in so very many ways and I am so very thankful.
Read LUKE 12:13-21
[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.” [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! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ [21] “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What lesson do you think Jesus is teaching here?What is our attitude to the things we possess? The way we speak about them gives a clue: “possessions,” “belonging to me,” “mine.” In this parable Jesus offers a radical alternative to that way of thinking.
The original question concerns a dispute between two brothers over the division of an inheritance—probably because a father had died without making his wishes clear. But Jesus goes much deeper than the original question. He looks instead at the attitude behind the dispute: greed (15).
The parable highlights the consequences of seeing an abundance of possessions as a goal in life. The rich man has forgotten his mortality; his life is simply “on loan” from God. We live in a world much the same; people live as though life consists of an “abundance of possessions” (15). Jesus calls us to be rich towards God (21). This means remembering that all we have belongs to God and we are caretakers or stewards. This way of living will bring us into conflict with those around us, but will ultimately mean that our lives have eternal significance.
Apply
How are you a good steward of your possessions? Ask God to help you depend on him, not them.
Closing prayer
Generous Lord, may I be thankful and use well all You’ve given me, but never let them come between us.
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