Luke 12:13-21 – Heavenly Inheritance

In 2010, a story came out about how the millionaire Forrest Fenn, an art dealer and author from New Mexico, hid a chest full of valuables in the Rocky Mtns. in an effort to spur a modern day treasure hunt. The Fenn Treasure was a cache of gold and jewels that was worth around $1 million. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people searched for the buried treasure, which wasn’t discovered until June of 2020. Not only did it take nearly a decade to find the treasure, the obsessive desire to find Fenn’s treasure also proved deadly. Multiple people lost their lives in the process of trying to find the treasure—one of them was even a pastor.

Now we may shake our head at someone who would value material treasure so highly that they would risk and even lose their life in search of it. But Scripture reveals that we in essence do the same thing when we love and serve created things rather than God. Worshiping anything above God or valuing anything above Him is sin and renders us guilty before God, deserving of death. Romans 6:23.

We especially see this in our pursuit of riches and how earthly treasure affects us. This propensity of the fallen human heart to value created things above God is reflected in His law as He forbids idol worship and coveting. But what we often see, in the world and in our own lives, is just the opposite. We make idols of our possessions and our wealth. We are not content with what we have but we are greedy for more and jealous to have what others possess.

In our culture, with such priority placed on wealth and possessions, along with the fallen nature of our human heart, it is no wonder that we struggle with the sins of greed and covetousness. The Bible calls this the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes. Even for believers, those who have been born again by the grace of God and empowered to defeat sin, we struggle to value God above material possessions. But throughout the course of Scripture, we see God teaching and showing His people that they are to value Him above all else. This was ultimately displayed by Jesus who demonstrated this in His life as God was His greatest treasure whom he loved above all else.

But man struggles with this. So how do we fight against the desire to value temporal earthly treasures above God? We must understand that God provided the way for us to fight. God generously provided Christ to rescue us from sin (which includes covetousness). We must understand that without Christ, we are powerless against sin. It is only as our hearts are regenerated through a relationship with Christ that we can then begin to fight the worship of possessions and covetousness. As we see God’s generosity toward us in Christ, we can be rich toward God.

This issue surfaces as Jesus is teaching here in Luke 12. From Jesus’ teaching, we can learn how to battle the sins of greed and covetousness.

Look at the outline on page 6 of the WG. We see that only in and through Christ can we guard against covetousness, grow in generosity, and gain a heavenly inheritance.

Let’s look at this passage together. A man demands Jesus intervene in an inheritance dispute. Jesus does not directly repond to that demand but uses the opportunity to teach about the human heart’s bent toward covetousness.

Notice several things here: Jesus knows the man’s heart, and he knows the man worships or covets money and possessions. The man does not ask Jesus to make a fair judgement in terms of the man and his brother’s inheritance. He demands Jesus tell his brother to divide the inheritance.

It seems Jesus is taken aback. Why? Jesus has been teaching about the kingdom of God and its importance. He has tried to get the people to see the nature of the kingdom of God and that he (Jesus) is the key to it and the key to eternal life. In other words, He has been presenting the gospel.

Now, in the middle of Jesus teaching about these things, this man essentially demands that Jesus settle his inheritance dispute. He seems to not have heard or learned anything. He is focused on the inheritance, greedy for material gain. Here is the Prophet teaching about eternal life and a heavenly inheritance and the man is worried about getting his riches. His heart is set on earthly treasures.

So, in light of this man’s (and all mankind’s) propensity toward greed and covetousness, Jesus tells this parable.

Look at verse 15. The story Jesus told of the rich man is ageless and simple. In the opening scene of the story, the man was already very wealthy (v. 16). But he was not satisfied. He already had many barns (notice the plural), but they were not enough. He wanted more. He made a plan to tear down his barns and build bigger ones so he could accumulate more wealth and finally sit back and relax; eat, drink, and be merry. There appears to be no regard for God or others. That is greed. That is valuing earthly treasure above God. Then, just as he was set to enjoy his incredible prosperity, he suddenly and unexpectedly died. Jesus told the parable to warn against coveting and greed.

Our Lord Jesus listed covetousness among the pollutions of the human heart, right along with murder and adultery. The original word behind it is also found in Mark 7:22. It’s defined as “the state of desiring to have more than one’s due,” or “a strong desire to acquire more and more material possessions or to possess more things than other people have, all irrespective of need.” Thomas Aquinas simply defined covetousness, or greed, as “the immoderate love of possessing.” Jesus knew very well that this man’s preoccupation with strictly mundane affairs had its root in what William Hendriksen calls cupidity - an inordinate desire or immoderate craving. Greed is the excessive desire or ambition to have more and more.

God tells us in Deut. 5:21 - 21 “ ‘And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’ And in Mark 8:36-37 - 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

Of course, this doesn’t mean earthly riches are inherently sinful we see this in passages such as 1 Tim. 6:17-19 - 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

I’ve read that one way to catch a racoon is to put a shiny piece of o foil inside a small, barred box that is anchored to the ground.  When the raccoon comes by, he’ll reach his hand into the box to get the shiny foil, but once he grabs hold of the foil, the shape of his paw won’t allow him to pull it back through the bars, and he’s so enamored with the idea of getting it, that he won’t let go.  The raccoon will likely lose his freedom or his life just because of his desire for a useless piece of tinfoil.

Jesus’ words warn us that it is so easy to get caught up in stuff and in self that stuff and self become the meaning of our lives. In writing about the materialism of our culture in his excellent book A Hunger for More, Laurence Shames writes, “A certain line gets crossed. People look to their goods not just for pleasure but for meaning. They want their stuff to tell them who they are.” We buy luxury pens or watches because we want those accessories to describe who we are to the world. We want everything from our cars to our vacations to define us.
Greed always wants more.

So how do we guard against covetousness and greed? We must realize that a relationship with Jesus frees us from our slavery to greed and coveting and positions us to walk in newness of life, growing in richness toward God and valuing Him above all else. We learn that we shouldn’t waste our lives in the accumulation of estates and goods to the point where we forget God and others. That is greed. It is idolizing wealth and possessions. It is important to realize, however, that it is not a sin to become rich and have properties and goods. But it is a sin to live for that and forget God and others.  It is a sin to value possessions and wealth above God. The cure is Christ. As we look to Christ – meditating on the Word about God’s generosity toward us through Christ, our hearts are continually transformed. The things of this world grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Understanding covetousness and how Christ conquered sin helps us face and root out covetousness in our own lives as Christians. We must put off the old man and destroy the covetousness that is part of our fallen nature. Furthermore, as those alive in Christ, we must also be putting on the new man, one who has contentment rather than covetousness at the root of all things. We who belong to Christ must cultivate contentment in Him, confident that a fruitful harvest is coming.

We also see that in Christ, we grow in generosity. Look at verses 16-19. Notice where the man’s focus is. Greed fails to see the true source of our possessions. The wealthy land owner considered himself to be a selfmade man. Six times in speaking to himself he used the personal pronoun “I.” He also spoke of “my crops; my barns; my grain; my goods.” He did not see himself as God’s steward. He saw himself as the owner. He was his own creator and sustainer.

The best medicine against greed is generosity, generosity toward God and generosity toward others. It’s contributing generously and regularly in order to alleviate the suffering of others and to advance the kingdom of God in this world.

Christian stewardship far exceeds giving ten percent to the Lord. The true Christian steward understands that everything he is and has belongs to God. God is the owner of his body, his time, the buttons on his shirt, and his children. To claim God’s possessions as your own is not only arrogant, it is sinful. The mind of the steward is to reflect the mind of the Master. The heart of the steward is to reflect the heart of the Master. The generosity of the steward is to reflect the generosity of the Master.

Scripture condemns those who serve their wealth, men and women who make it their god and do not thank the Lord for their possessions. Our Creator calls us to be thankful and generous people. If we are not, we are likely giving in to covetousness, and we must repent and seek to serve God with our riches.

Have you ever heard of Cirrhosis of the Giver? I came across this fictitious but informative diagnosis as I was studying.  Listen carefully to this creative way to describe the human condition. The disease cirrhosis of the giver was discovered in A.D. 34 by the husband-wife team of Ananias and Sapphira when they failed to give generously from the proceeds from their sale of land. It is an acute condition that renders the patient’s hands immobile when he is called on to move them in the direction of his wallet or her purse, and from there to the offering plate. This strange disease is clinically unobservable in such surroundings as the golf club, supermarket, clothing store, or restaurant. Some try to use a fake remedy, pointing out to the patients that income tax deductions can be claimed for giving. The best therapy, and that which leads to a sure and lasting cure, is to get the individuals heart right with God. This affliction is actually a symptom of a more basic need of the soul.

Are you a generous Christian? Generosity begins in the heart. It begins when we stop weeping over what we are giving up and start rejoicing in all we have gained in Christ. It begins when our treasure is laid up in heaven, not on earth. 2 Corinthians 9 teaches us - 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

God in his providence has given us different amounts of stuff. It can be so easy to focus on the stuff we have or better yet, the stuff we do not have. We look around at other people and we wish we had what they have. See, if I had what they have, I would be happy. But do you see how that is a focus on the created thing rather than the Creator? Instead our focus should be on the Creator, who gives all things according to his good pleasure. And if we are focused on Him, above all else, we will be content with the things he gives us, whether much or little.

There is no area of life where God is not graciously and constantly engaged in supplying our needs (notice, not necessarily our wants or desires) and demonstrating His absolute sufficiency for every one of His children.

Our joy should be in Him, not our possessions. Fulfillment should come from Him, not our possessions. If we have Him, we have everything we need. And He can never be taken away from us, so we can never lose Him. We can never lose our greatest possession. Unlike the rich fool in the parable, when our soul is demanded of us, we are ready. When our soul is demanded of us, we are about to come into full possession of our greatest treasure.

This true contentment means that we are not longing for the way of the world or worldly pleasure. Rather, we are to be content with the promises of the gospel. This is Paul’s appeal to Timothy (1 Tim. 6:3–11): follow the sound teaching of Scripture that “accords with godliness.” Paul reminds his protégé, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment” (v. 6). Paul mentions “senseless and harmful desires and all sorts of evils” to be avoided, and he urges Christians to be content with what they have (vv. 8–9). After saying what Timothy should “flee,” he exhorts him to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” Contentment yields godliness and gratitude in the Christian life. In addition, the contented Christian is also expectant, awaiting the King’s return to welcome him into His kingdom forever (Rev. 21–22). In Him, that is, in Christ, we gain a heavenly inheritance.

Let’s pray.