Jesus
tells The Parable of the Rich Fool after
being asked by a man in the crowd to arbitrate an inheritance dispute with the
man’s brother. In response to this man’s inquiry Jesus warns the crowd against
covetousness, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for
one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15b). Rather
than coveting the rich man’s abundance and lifestyle of “relax, eat, drink, be
merry” followers of Christ ought to purse living “rich toward God” (Luke 12:19
& 21).
Coveting
is defined as striving to possess something for yourself at the expense of its
rightful owner. To what Ephesians 5:5 and Colossians 3:5 link covetousness?
What
does Jesus reveal about the rich fool’s self-deception in Luke 12:17-19? How
were the following people deceived by covetousness?
Achan
(Joshua 7:21)--
Eli’s
sons (1 Samuel 2:12-15)--
King
Saul (1 Samuel 15:9-10)--
Simon
the Sorcerer (Acts 8:13-23)--
What
do the following scriptures reveal about the consequences of covetousness?
Matthew
6:22-24; Mark 7:21-23--
Micah
2:2-3--
Psalm
10:3--
Application
Meditate
on Psalm 119:35-40. The Holman Study Bible defines being “rich toward God” as
“living to glorify God and investing our earthly assets to make an eternal
difference.” In what specific ways is the Holy Spirit leading you and your
family to live rich toward God?
Memorize
This
Matthew
6:20-21 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do
not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there your heart is also. NIV
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