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Listen "The Gospel of Luke: Being Rich in Christ | Greed | Treasure - Audio"
Episode Synopsis
Sermon Notes 11/23/25
Luke 12:13-21.
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Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he though to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? And he said 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'" But God said to him 'Foo! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
We live in the midst of a culture where we have more than we’ve ever had before, but we have less satisfaction in the things we own than ever before. Immediately prior to this text, Jesus is talking about the power of the Holy Spirit to lead people. In this verse, there's a telling interruption of that: a man asks Jesus to tell his brother to share his inheritance with him. We should not be surprised that money causes disruption. The man probably has the expectation that, as a rabbi, Jesus would sort out this superficial matter. But Jesus, as usual, strikes at the heart of the matter - the man’s insatiable drive for more.
In the moment, Jesus uncovers the main problem - that craving for more has disrupted the man's relationships with others. We are to watch out for this in our hearts. And not just against money, against ALL forms of greediness.
Jesus gives us this reminder - one’s life does not consist of the abundance of stuff. Which is why you can find the stuff and still feel empty. True abundance is the ability to step into another day satisfied with what God has given you. We’re quick to call out things like sexual sin, but according to scripture we should be just as quick to condemn covetousness in ourselves. The Apostle Paul names greed as idolatry.
.
It is foolish to work yourself to the bone for stuff that will not mean anything the night your soul is required of you.
Luke 12:13-21.
.
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he though to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? And he said 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'" But God said to him 'Foo! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
We live in the midst of a culture where we have more than we’ve ever had before, but we have less satisfaction in the things we own than ever before. Immediately prior to this text, Jesus is talking about the power of the Holy Spirit to lead people. In this verse, there's a telling interruption of that: a man asks Jesus to tell his brother to share his inheritance with him. We should not be surprised that money causes disruption. The man probably has the expectation that, as a rabbi, Jesus would sort out this superficial matter. But Jesus, as usual, strikes at the heart of the matter - the man’s insatiable drive for more.
In the moment, Jesus uncovers the main problem - that craving for more has disrupted the man's relationships with others. We are to watch out for this in our hearts. And not just against money, against ALL forms of greediness.
Jesus gives us this reminder - one’s life does not consist of the abundance of stuff. Which is why you can find the stuff and still feel empty. True abundance is the ability to step into another day satisfied with what God has given you. We’re quick to call out things like sexual sin, but according to scripture we should be just as quick to condemn covetousness in ourselves. The Apostle Paul names greed as idolatry.
.
It is foolish to work yourself to the bone for stuff that will not mean anything the night your soul is required of you.
In God we trust