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
God’s amazing love for us is most clearly demonstrated in the person of Jesus - through his life, death and resurrection. Jesus reached out in compassion to those who needed mercy. We must be careful however, not to limit our picture of Jesus that he becomes a one-dimensional, shiny, happy sanitized God who never raised his voice or spoke a harsh word.
In fact, Jesus seemed to have a low tolerance for foolishness and hypocrisy. He never shied away from calling it as he saw it. When Jesus is approached by a man seeking a bigger portion of his family inheritance, Jesus will have no part. Instead he tells a parable that says “You fool! You are focused on the wrong thing.” Jesus’ frankness is refreshing to me because there are times I need to hear the words “You Fool!” so I can let go of my things and cling to Jesus.
Prayer
Triune God - Thank you for loving us, for showing us mercy and compassion. Thank you also for speaking the word of truth, for opening our eyes so that we may know our worth in you. Amen.