Series: Blessed Be
Luke 12:16-21 ESV
*Luke 12:22-27 ESV
Luke 12:28-31 ESV
One day when Jesus was on earth he told a shocking parable to those who had gathered.
We read in Luke 12:16-21 that Jesus “told them a parable, saying, “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?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
The problem with the man in the parable first is that the man who was already wealthy produced an abundant crop. He produced so much that his barns that were already full couldn’t hold the new crop.
The parable does not say that the man was willing to give a portion to God or to the poor and hungry people in his area.
He selfishly decided to keep it all stored up for himself so he tore down his old barns. We might wonder what he did with the previous crop that was in the smaller barns. The story doesn’t say he gave to the needy. It simply says he destroyed the smaller barns so he could build bigger barns to store (keep to himself) the new abundant crop.
The man was clearly thinking of himself.
He had no thought about his neighbors or even about sharing a small portion with the Temple priests and the poor.
Jesus went on in Luke 12:22-27 saying, “he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
Do not be anxious (without having faith in God).
Life is more than food and clothing and notably storing up an abundance.
Jesus reminded his listeners that the birds (and other animals) and the beautiful lillies of the field do not need to stockpile their food without sharing it because God provides for them. He reminds them again they do not need to be anxious about how they will survive.
Jesus wanted them to realize that God provides for wild creatures and plants and God will provide for them as well.
In other words, it’s okay to share with the less fortunate when you have more than you need.
The other thing to notice is that at the beginning of the story when the man already had grain in his barns, the man didn’t seem to be grateful that his barns were already full.
We might wonder how much grain is enough grain?
Would there ever be enough grain?
If his next crop produced an abundance of grain would he continue to build even bigger barns instead of sharing it with those who have not been as fortunate?
And so Jesus said in Luke 12:28-31, “But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”
The man in the story needed an attitude adjustment. The rich man wasn’t thinking the good crop was from God. He didn’t seem to be thinking about God at all.
We also realize when he initially asked the question about what he should do about the abundant crop he was already anxious about having so much crop.
At that point instead of thinking about storing up his crops on earth and we have no indication he thought about God, we realize he was not really thinking about life after death.
He didn’t seem to be thinking of eternity with God.
He was only concerned about stock piling the provision he had on earth.
The rich man really was a fool.
Not only did he not see that there were others who had no grain, no blessing and no way to feed their family, there was no mention of sharing even a portion of his grain. The story doesn’t even say he took time to give away the old grain that he had in the smaller barns.
The rich man “missed the boat” when he thought only of his abundance. He did not take time to think it was God who had blessed him WITH the abundance.
Any time we are so self focused that we believe what we have (whether it’s a lot or a little) is of our own doing, we truly are missing the point that God is our provider.
Even if you have $1 and the man next to you has $100, God is our provider.
Jesus ended the story by reminding his listeners that God does see them. God knows what they need. God knows that ultimately what we need is the eternal kingdom of God, but while we are on earth God WILL provide everything we need!
Spiritual Practice: Talk to God
Ask God to help you to feel like you are seen!
In God, Deborah
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