Luke 12:12–21

¹²At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.”

Jesus Warns Against Selfishness

¹³Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us.”

¹⁴But Jesus said to him, “Who said I should judge or decide between you?” ¹⁵Then Jesus said to them, “Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns.”

¹⁶Then Jesus told this story: “There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop. ¹⁷He thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’ ¹⁸Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and other goods. ¹⁹Then I can say to myself, “I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!” ’

²⁰“But God said to him, ‘Foolish man! Tonight your life will be taken from you. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?’

²¹“This is how it will be for those who store up things for themselves and are not rich toward God.”