Covetousness     Luke 12:13-21

This post concerns covetousness by disciples.

‘Covetousness’ as a post provides an illustration of covetousness, both in a parable and in Jesus’ words. The parable came after someone asked Jesus to make his brother divide his inheritance. Jesus said ‘no,’ Luke 12:14-15.

“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.”

Covetousness, an excessive desire to acquire or possess more than one needs or deserves, especially material wealth, defined the man who wanted Jesus to be an arbitrator.

Then Jesus told them a parable as an illustration of covetousness, Luke 12:16-20.

“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought 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, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’”

Thus, Jesus taught that covetousness causes us to measure the success of our lives by the size of our possessions. He told this parable about this man, who blessed by God, needed larger storage facilities for his crops. He thought that his goods would take care of him and his soul. This shows his trust in material things and that he lived for himself and not for God or others.

God took his life. Jesus taught that if we exhibit covetousness and just think of ourselves, then we will receive the same condemnation. Instead, we should show richness toward God by obeying and depending on Him rather than ourselves.

So, what did we learn? I must be rich toward God and not covetous or rich toward self.

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