LUKE 12: 13 - 21 - GENEROSITY: THE ANTIDOTE TO GREEDINESS!

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 12)

THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14 “Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

BIG IDEA: WHEN WE LIVE BEYOND OURSELVES (AND NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES) WE OVERCOME GREED!

BEING GREEDY IS EASY.

IN THE SAME WAY AS BEING STINGY.

BUT, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE: Stinginess is the desire to keep what you have, while greedIness is the unquenchable desire to acquire more.

GREEDY FOLK NEVER HAVE ENOUGH.

I WON’T EVEN USE ANY DESCRIPTIONS, BECAUSE IT’LL HIT SOMEONE.

BOTH OF THESE HABITS KILL THE SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY IN US…AND IF WE’RE HONEST, MOST OF US VACILLATE BETWEEN THE TWO, DEPENDING UPON THE ITEM/ISSUE.

IN OUR TEXT, TWO DUDES ARE BEEFING ABOUT THEIR INHERITANCE...

SO MUCH SO THAT ONE TELLS JESUS, “TELL MY BROTHER TO DIVIDE THE INHERITANCE WITH ME.”

JESUS RESPONDS, “I AM NOT THE ARBITRATOR!”

THEN JESUS BEGINS TO TEACH THEM AND US:

GUARD AGAINST (((ALL))) GREED! (GUARD AGAINST THIS DESIRE FOR MORE…ALL THE TIME)!

JESUS GIVES THIS GENERAL REASON: BECAUSE ONE’S LIFE IS NOT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS POSSESSIONS.

REGARDLESS OF THE WORLD’S WAYS: THE MEANING OF LIFE IS NOT THE ONE WHO FINISHES WITH THE MOST STUFF WINS!

YET, MOST/MANY FOLKS BELIEVE THIS!

WHO FINISHES WITH THE MOST STUFF WINS!

THIS IS WHY WE ARE ALWAYS ON HUSTLE-MODE.

ALWAYS HAVE AN ANGLE FOR MORE...

MANY OF US SEE EVERY PERSON AS A POTENTIAL CLIENT/CUSTOMER!

AND WHEN WE’RE ENTRENCHED WITH THIS MENTALITY - SURROUNDED BY LIKE-MINDED FOLKS, WE CONVINCE OURSELVES THAT THIS IS INNOCENT.

JESUS SAYS, “NO IT AIN’T!”

REAL LIFE IS MORE THAN STUFF.

REAL LIFE IS MORE THAN HOW MUCH WE END WITH.

THEN THE PARABLE…JESUS TEACHES WITH PARABLES, BECAUSE PICTURES TEACH BETTER:

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 12)

16 Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’

WHEN WE TALK TO OURSELVES ABOUT OURSELVES, WE WILL ONLY LIVE FOR OURSELVES.

OF COURSE, THIS IS AN EXTREME CASE. YOU WOULD NEVER BE SO NARROW-MINDED, WOULD YOU?

ONE OF THE MOST LUCRATIVE INDUSTRIES IS THE STORAGE INDUSTRY. WATCH THIS: WE HAVE SO MUCH STUFF THAT WE CAN’T HOUSE IS AT HOME. SO WE BUY SPACE TO HOUSE THE STUFF THAT CAN’T FIT IN OUR HOUSE.

I’LL BUILD BIGGER ONES AND STORE ALL MY STUFF....

NOW DON’T TRIP. JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A STORAGE UNIT DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY MAKE YOU GREEDY. VERY LIKELY THE STUFF YOU’RE STORING, ONLY HAS VALUE TO THE ONE STORING IT.

HOWEVER, THE CONCEPT IS THE SAME:

WHEN WE FAIL TO CONSIDER HOW A THING CAN BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS, WE’RE BEING GREEDY!

WHEN WE FOCUS ON OUR OWN PLEASURE, AFTER WE’RE GOOD/FULL/SET, WE’RE BEING GREEDY!

WHEN WE FORGET THAT WE’RE CALLED TO SERVE AND NOT TO SIT, WE’RE BEING GREEDY!

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 12)

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

WE LIVE FOOLISHLY WHEN WE PREPARE GREEDILY!

LOOK BEYOND YOURSELF

GIVE AWAY THE EXTRA (AND MORE)

LEAVE A LEGACY (NOT DIFFICULTY)