Bible Text: Luke 12:13-23 | “More Than Food” Luke 12:13-23

Open:  (v13) “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

                        Not necessarily a greedy request.  This might come from a pursuit of fairness or justice.

I.        All Forms of Greed

          A.     (v15) “Be on your guard against all forms of greed”

                  1.      “…for one’s life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

                  2.      If not, what does demonstrate the measure of a person’s life?

          B.     Ecclesiastes 2:24, “There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in their…”

                  1.      Do you enjoy your work and chores?  Do you envy others their labor?

                  2.      (v14) “Man, who appointed me a judge or arbiter over you?”  Why the brushoff?

II.       A Parable of a Rich Man on Rich Land

          A.     (v16) “The land of a rich man produced plentifully.”

                  1.      (v17) So plentifully that he asked, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?”

                  2.      Not mentioned:  Lazarus at the gate, how the crop grew, or a complaint against being rich

          B.     (v18) “I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain.”

                  1.      A planner this one.  That is how one gets rich and being rich isn’t bad. [1 Timothy 6:17-19]

                  2.      What to do with such wealth?  (v19) “Relax, eat, drink, be merry.”  Retirement

III.      Some Things You Can’t Plan

          A.     (v20) “God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded from you.’”

                  1.      “Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”  [Ecclesiastes 2:21]

                  2.      Home ownership on Marie Street, Wenatchee

          B.     (v21) This is how it will be with anyone who stores up for herself but is not rich toward God.”

                  1.      When is it a good time to be generous?

                  2.      In our image-driven society, what can be sacrificed to free us for generosity?

Conclusion:   Philippians 2:4.  The generosity undergirding Highview is more than monetary.

                  John 1:5