Luke 12:13-21 (NASB)

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

14 But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

15 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.”

16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.

17 “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’

18 “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.

19 ‘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.”’

20 “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?’

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

Vocabulary List:

Covetousness – the desire, lust to have the wealth or possessions of someone else.

• Exodus 20:17 (NASB) 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Contentment – an inward trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness that produces the fruit of joy and peace and thanksgiving in the life of a believer, regardless of outward circumstances. Luke 12: 22-37

• Luke 12:31;34 (ESV) 31Instead, seek his£ kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Walking Points:

• Godliness + Contentment = Great Gain

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (ESV)

6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,

7 for we brought nothing into the world, and£ we cannot take anything out of the world.

8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

• What does it mean to be “rich toward God”?
  • It means to acknowledge gratefully that everything we have comes from God, and then make an effort to use what He gives us for the good of others and the glory of God. Wealth can be enjoyed and employed at the same time if our purpose is to honor God (1 Tim. 6:10). To be rich toward God means spiritual enrichment, not just personal enjoyment. How tragic it is when people are rich in this world but poor in the next! (see Matt. 6:19-34)

Monday Morning Moment:

“People who are satisfied only with the things that money can buy are in great danger of losing the things that money cannot buy.” For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? (Matthew 16:26)

Great Quotes:

“Civilization” is defined as “a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities” —- Mark Twain

“That man is the richest whose pleasures are cheapest.” —- Henry David Thoreau