Luke 12:13-21

GOD’S WORD Translation

A Story about Material Possessions

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of the inheritance that our father left us.”

¹⁴ Jesus said to him, “Who appointed me to be your judge or to divide ⌞your inheritance⌟?”

¹⁵ He told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.”

¹⁶ Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops. ¹⁷ He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ ¹⁸ He said, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them. ¹⁹ Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’ ²¹ That’s how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God.”