1. An inheritance dispute
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Luke 12:13 (ESV)
2. An initial rebuke
14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:14-15 (ESV)
26 All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. Proverbs 21:26 (ESV)
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Ephesians 5:3 (ESV)
3. An invited predicament
16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ Luke 12:16-17 (ESV)
4. An individual dialogue
18 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. Luke 12:18 (ESV)
5. An indulgent solution
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ Luke 12:19 (ESV)
32 . . . If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 1 Corinthians 15:32 (ESV)
6. An ironic twist
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ Luke 12:20 (ESV)
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalm 14:1 (ESV)
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)
7. An intense lesson
21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:21 (ESV)