Tuesday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Luke 12:16-21
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
12:19–21 Fool! Ironically, the man who took such great care to prepare for his own (earthly) needs turns out to be a fool. Instead of fulfilling his moral responsibility to care for the needs of others, he is rebuked for laying up treasure for himself and for not being rich toward God. Though this verse does not prohibit wealth, Jesus clearly warns his hearers concerning the dangerous eternal implications of wealth, with its seductive tendency toward complacency, self-sufficiency, and covetousness. Though the rich fool anticipates years of ease—a time to eat, drink, be merry—instead an eternal destiny apart from God awaits him. As Jesus’ condemning words confirm, “This night your soul is required of you.”
Study Questions:
- Most people in our country would never put themselves in the category of "rich." But the TRUTH is, even those in the lower and middle class in America are among the wealthiest people to ever walk the planet. When Jesus uses the term "rich," he is definitely speaking to us. And if we re-read these verses with that in mind, it becomes easy to see where our issues are and how out of whack our priorities get. We all slide into self-sufficiency and spiritual complacency. How wrapped up do you get with material possessions and money? How can you make sure you keep yourself in check?
- Jesus teaches in these verses about money and what it means to be truly rich. Any time Jesus says, "Once upon a time," you're about to get your mail read! So, we should be leaning into this message of Jesus and asking what he is saying to us through it. We all grow up wanting to BE rich. And we are! We are among the most wealthy people to ever exist. But Jesus says it's so much better than that. He wants us to BE rich in our relationship with God. After reading what Jesus had to say, do you want to GET rich or BE rich? Is it one or the other? Or both? How difficult is it to be both?
Pray:
- That you would be more concerned with treasures in heaven than building your wealth on earth.
- That you would long to BE rich in your relationship with God.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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