Saturday after the First Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on June 17, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 12:13-21 (NKJV)
12:13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Devotion
The parable of the rich fool, like many of Jesus’ parables, cuts to the heart of the problem: the sinful heart. Our Lord reacts to a man who demands that Jesus tell the man’s brother to divide an inheritance. Christ teaches that righteousness is not found in earthly wealth.
There is nothing wrong with saving money or managing one’s finances. The sin of covetousness is the problem. The man who demanded that our Lord arbitrate a dispute was blinded by a sinful heart that seeks security in worldly treasures, rather than in believing the Gospel.
It is easy for the old Adam to wrap himself up in things that are tangible and worldly. It is easy to say, “I have done well!” and “I have enough now.” But nothing from the temporal world can save us from death. Our striving for good works cannot earn salvation! Therefore, look to what truly matters: believing in the Lord Jesus and trusting Him to save you from sin, death, and the grave. The Gospel of forgiveness and life in Christ crucified is the true treasure of eternal life!
Prayer: O God, the Strength of all them that put their trust in Thee: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without Thee, grant us the help of Thy grace, that in keeping Thy commandments we may please Thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
