Grief Turns To Greed

Grief turns to greed

Luke 12:13 – 21

Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz

13 Now someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the

family inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “You there—who appointed Me

a judge or arbitrator over the two of you?” 15 But He said to them, “Beware, and be

on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his

life consist of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of

a rich man was very productive. 17 “And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What

shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 “And he said, ‘This is what I

will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain

and my goods there. 19 ‘And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up

for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”’ 20 “But God said to

him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you

have prepared, who will own it now?’ 21 “Such is the one who stores up treasure for

himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”

There are so many events in our past that it’s difficult to hold them all in our minds at

once. Yet sometimes, a passage of Scripture stirs a memory—bringing clarity,

conviction, or even a challenge. Let’s begin by looking at the passage that prompted

this reflection: Luke 12:13–21.

In this scene, a man from the crowd approaches Jesus and demands that He settle a

dispute over an inheritance between him and his brother. Jesus immediately responds

that He is not there to act as a judge or to make decisions about earthly matters.

In Jesus’ day, people typically brought their disputes to the wise men of the village—

trusted elders who could be found at the town gate or even on rooftops. Formal

judges were rarely consulted because they were known to accept bribes. Judges

weren’t paid salaries, so bribery became their income. If you wanted a fair decision,

you went to the wise men.

Why was this man demanding that his brother share the inheritance? According to

Jewish inheritance law, the eldest son received a double portion, while the younger

siblings divided the remainder. If there were only two brothers, the older would

receive two-thirds of the estate, and the younger one-third. It’s likely the younger

brother wanted more than he was entitled to.

This moment led Jesus not only to decline the role of judge but also to offer a parable

about greed.

In the ancient Near East, money was scarce. People traded food—barley, wheat,

beans, and other grains served as currency. When a landowner experienced several

abundant harvests, he would store the excess in barns or silos. Eventually, he might

stop working his fields altogether because he had more than enough.

But Jesus warned that this abundance often led to spiritual decay. People began living

lavishly, forgetting their neighbors—and forgetting God. They failed to recognize that

everything they had was a gift from the Lord. Even when we have more than enough,

we must remain thankful and humble, acknowledging that our abilities and resources

come from Him.

This passage also stirred a personal memory for me—one that illustrates how grief

can tragically turn into greed.

I knew two women who had been best friends since first grade. Both were retired and

worked together. One day, while driving to a market, they stopped at a sign and began

to pull onto the road. A speeding driver—going 70 in a 35 mph zone—struck their

car. The driver’s side was hit directly, and the woman behind the wheel was killed

instantly. Her friend in the passenger seat suffered only minor cuts.

The insurance company compensated the surviving friend for her pain and suffering.

But less than two years later, she went to a lawyer who advised her to sue the estate of

her deceased friend’s mother—who had also passed away. This is a stark example of

grief turning into greed.

Sadly, I’ve seen this happen many times—and often much faster than two years. It’s

heartbreaking. Jesus considered this kind of behavior sinful, and we must guard

ourselves against it.

I also knew a woman whose mother had just died. Within two hours, she arrived at

her mother’s house with her husband and children—and a trailer. They began taking

everything they could get their hands on, including furniture. Her mother wasn’t even

cold, and she was already claiming possessions, ignoring the will entirely. She even

tried to take her mother’s car.

Her brothers intervened, warning her that if she didn’t return everything, they would