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13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 And 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." 16 Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, "What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' 18 Then 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. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But 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?' 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God." (Luke 12:13-21 NRSV)
It's Monday! And we're still alive! Yes, give thanks for another day, another week, another opportunity to serve the Lord and the Lord's people. So, do it! With love and compassion, no less!
Back in the day, almost every single person in America hoped secretly that their doorbell would ring and that he would be there holding a big ole check. You see kids, there was a company that used to push magazines for every single magazine publisher in the world and their company was called Publishers Clearing House and twice a year or so, they would hold a sweepstakes worth millions. Supposedly, the late Ed McMahon, co-host of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, would show up in a van with balloons and flowers, and of course, the big check. Of course one's chances of winning this sweepstakes were as good as winning the major lotteries, but the Clearing House advertising was written in marvelous ways that led many to believe they had already won! One had to read and re-read the letter so that you realized that there may be a winner, but it is not me. Unfortunately, in one of my churches, a gentleman came to my office early one morning with said letter and excitedly told me he had won and wanted me to help him collect the prize money. He was serious and he wanted me to call the headquarters of said sweepstakes to help him collect the money. Tried as I did, he would not take my word that I too, had received the exact same letter and I kept underlining the word MIGHT, but he would not hear of it. Thankfully, his son came and together we helped him realize, much to his sadness, that he was not a millionaire.
Let me repeat what Rick Warren, who did become a millionaire with his books, that "it is not a sin to be rich, but it is a sin to die rich." And then there was Jesus who spoke more about money and possessions than he did about prayer. Why do you think that was? Someone said if you don't control your posessions they'll eventually possess you. And we come to this passage.
Jesus shares a powerful warning about greed and misplaced priorities. A man approaches Jesus, asking Him to settle a family dispute over inheritance. Instead of dividing the possessions, Jesus points to the deeper issue of the heart: “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
Jesus then tells the parable of the rich man who, after a great harvest, decides to build bigger barns to store all his grain. He convinces himself that he has secured years of comfort and ease, but God calls him a fool, saying, “This very night your life is being demanded of you.” His possessions cannot save him, nor can they give his life true meaning.
This passage challenges us to consider what we treasure most. Are we building barns of temporary wealth, or are we investing in what is eternal—faith, love, and the things of God? Being “rich toward God” means aligning our hearts with His purposes and trusting that true life is found not in what we have, but in who we are becoming in Christ.
PRAYER: Generous and loving God, teach us to guard our hearts against greed and self-reliance. Help us to see the value of eternal treasures over earthly possessions. May we grow rich in love, faith, and kindness, storing up what matters most in Your kingdom. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, practice generosity. Look for one way to bless someone with your time, your resources, or your encouragement, and in doing so, build treasure that lasts forever.
I love you and I thank God for you,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
