Let’s not spend our lives complaining about financial injustices. There is a better choice. What did Jesus say to a victim of financial injustice in Luke 12:13-21?
What Life is Not
Luke 12:13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”
Wise parents will divide an inheritance so that their legacy is siblings that were treated fairly. Favoritism and greed divide families. Rabbis and pastors may be asked about family injustices. A wise pastor will follow Jesus’ example and not meddle, even if he feels that an injustice was done.
Luke 12:14-15 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
Jesus’ advice was to avoid covetousness, greed, or “lusting for a greater number of temporal things that go beyond what God determines is eternally best”. [1] If someone has swindled us, walk away and forget it. Abundant possessions do not define a great life. Being satisfied is a great life.
[1] THAYER'S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com
Life is full of injustices. Let’s not waste time making ourselves miserable, haggling over money, and not living. Was Jesus telling the young man to let it go, and not let others’ greed also make us greedy? Getting justice in every financial transaction is not what makes a good life.
Rich towards God
Luke 12:16-19 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!”’
Even an honest gathering of wealth for a self-centered retirement cannot stop death, nor God’s judgment on our self-indulgence. Rather than narcissistic living, let’s think about the judgment? It is foolish to deem laying up treasures for self, while not thinking of the poor, is the pinnacle of financial responsibility (Psalm 49).
Luke 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
The wicked praise the greedy (Psalm 10:1-4), greed ambushes the greedy first (Proverbs 1:18-19), destroys families (Proverbs 15:27), causes poverty (Proverbs 28:22; Proverbs 30:14), destroys nations (Proverbs 29:4; Isaiah 56:10-11), is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5), brings dishonest gain, sheds innocent blood, oppresses and extorts (Jeremiah 22:15-17). The greedy take; the righteous give (Proverbs 15:27).
Luke 12:21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Scientific research shows that selfish species die.[2] Thriving species communicate and cooperate. Greed isolates us from our clans. Covetousness is therefore self-destructive behavior. Greed estranges us, isolates us from support, and destroys trust. Even in nature, insects and sheep know instinctively that to survive they must share and cooperate.
[2] Hogenboom, Melissa. "Selfish Traits Not Favoured by Evolution, Study Shows." BBC News. N.p., 2 Aug. 2013. Web. 31 July 2016.
In a church climate that encourages us to speak up about injustices, Jesus gives us one example when not to speak, but to just let it go. How does that fare for other injustices in the world? Must we always speak up, or is there a time to just let it go?
The greedy hurt themselves and their families. Don’t covet what they have taken! Walk away! Let it go! Be satisfied! Live a better life! Live selflessly and in so doing be rich towards God!
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
