Bible moment
The Bible moment
In Luke 12:13–15, someone in the crowd asks Jesus to tell his brother to divide an inheritance. Jesus does not act as judge or divider in the matter. Instead, He warns everyone to guard against greed, because life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. Jesus then tells a parable in Luke 12:16–21. A rich man’s land produces an abundant harvest. He plans to tear down his barns, build larger ones, and store his grain and goods for himself. He tells himself to relax and enjoy life for many years. God calls him a fool and says that his life will be required that night. His stored possessions cannot save him or go with him. Jesus concludes that storing up treasure for oneself without being rich toward God is empty. The passage does not say that wealth itself is inherently condemned; it focuses on self-centered storing up and failure to be rich toward God.
