Rich Toward God

Draft, under review

Luke 12:13–21

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

14But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”

15And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

16Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.

17So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’

18Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.

19Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Berean Standard Bible. Read the full chapter

Reflection

A man in the crowd asks Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute with his brother. Jesus declines to be his judge and goes to the root instead. He warns them to watch out for every kind of greed, because a person's life is not measured by how much they own (Luke 12:13–15).

Then He tells a story. A rich man's land produces a huge harvest (Luke 12:16). Notice that the success itself isn't condemned. Good harvests are God's gift (Acts 14:17). The problem is in the man's conversation with himself. He asks what he should do with his crops, and decides to tear down his barns, build bigger ones and tell his soul to relax, eat, drink and enjoy itself for years (Luke 12:17–19). Every sentence is about me and mine. There is no thanks to God and no thought of anyone else.

God's answer is sudden. That very night his life is required of him, and then whose will all of it be (Luke 12:20)? Jesus draws the lesson. The same goes for anyone who piles up wealth for himself while remaining poor toward God (Luke 12:21).

If life is going well, this isn't a call to feel guilty. It is a call to hold your success differently: with thanks, with open hands and with eternity in view. Being rich toward God means trusting Him rather than your reserves, and letting what He gives you flow out in generosity (1 Tim 6:17–19; Luke 12:33–34). Your life is more than your barns.

Word study: verified (STEPBible)

pleonexia (Greek, Strong's G4124): greed, the desire for more (Luke 12:15). Jesus answers it with plouteo (to be rich, G4147) in Luke 12:21, being rich toward God.

Cross-reference trail

  1. Eccl 5:10-15: Wealth that never satisfies.
  2. Deut 8:17-18: Remember who gave the ability.
  3. Luke 12:32-34: Where your treasure is.
  4. 1 Tim 6:17-19: Hope in God, and be generous.
  5. Jas 4:13-15: If the Lord wills.

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Prayer

Lord, everything I have is from You. Make me rich toward You, thankful in plenty, and quick to share.

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