The House That Couldn’t Hold a Soul

02/03/2025 - Matthew Destry

Jesus steps into this anxiety-soaked culture—not much different from ours—and tells a story. But it’s not just about money or accumulating; it’s about what owns us.

Bible: Luke 12:13-21

Someone in 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 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.” 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?’ 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. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 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?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Challenge: What inheritance are you fighting for today? A temporary one that fades, or an eternal one that never will?

The parable’s punch comes in two words: “This very night.”

What if the very thing we think is proof of God’s blessing is the thing that leads us away from Him?

  1. Affluence affects our attitude

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

  • Wealth isn’t evil, but it whispers lies: “You’re in control. You’ve earned security.”
  • The farmer’s wealth blinded him to his mortality.
  • Challenge: Do your successes make you less sensitive to your need for God?
  1. Possessions Are Not the Problem, But Greed Is Dangerous
  • Greed isn’t about how much you have but how tightly you grip it.
  • Challenge: What do you hesitate to give away? That might be what has your heart.
  1. What We Own Is Not Truly Ours
  • The rich man said, “My barns, my goods.” But God asks, “Whose will they be?”
  • The reality: You can’t own what you can’t take with you.
  • Challenge: If your life ended tonight, would what you leave behind reflect what you believed?

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” (1 Timothy 6:18)

  1. God’s Provision is Overwhelming—He Is the True Provider

God’s provision isn’t merely enough; it’s overwhelming—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The Rich Fool had a surplus because God’s nature is generous. But instead of seeing the surplus as a chance for stewardship, he viewed it as a means for self-indulgence. God’s provision isn’t just for our preservation; it’s for His purposes.

Conclusion: Be Rich Toward God

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)

What one thing could you let go of today to become “rich toward God”?

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