Luke 12:13-21 (NRSV)
Read Luke 12:13-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." Verse 14But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" Verse 15And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Verse 16Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. Verse 17And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Verse 18Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. Verse 19And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' Verse 20But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' Verse 21So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."
Devotion
This parable of Jesus offers a cautionary word. There may be several reasons that the farmer tears down his barns to build bigger barns. From Jesus’ comments after the telling of the parable he seems to be cautioning us against greed. Greed can be the result of being overly concerned about security. Greed can be the result of a kind of scarcity thinking that we are not safe until we have more, always more. Greed can be a misuse of power. On the one hand power can be good and creative. Productivity can be a very good thing, but we can overshoot in our desire for more. The parable reminds us that there is more to life than productivity. We are a people under God’s care. Honoring a caring relationship with God and with our neighbor and with God’s creation is the true key to the good life.
Prayer
Lord of all, recall us to trust in the fullness of your grace. When the world seems to be empty of caring, when needs seem to outweigh resources, awaken us again to your abundance. Amen.
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