13 Feb. Jesus warns against selfishness
"Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us'. But Jesus said to him, 'Who said I should judge or decide between you?'"
"Then Jesus said to them, 'Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns.'"
"Then Jesus told this story: 'There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop. He thought to himself, "What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops."'"
"'Then 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. Then I can say to myself, 'I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink and enjoy life!'"'"
"'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?"'"
"'This is how it will be for those who store up things for themselves and are not rich towards God.'"
(Luke 12:13-21)
The meaning of this parable is quite clear - God is deeply offended by those who are selfish and think only about themselves.
In this context, Jesus goes on to teach that God will provide for all his followers’ needs. “So I tell you, don’t worry about the food you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body…Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest… but God feeds them. … Consider how the lilies grow; they don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.” (Luke 12:22, 24 & 27)
Solomon, according to the Bible, was the richest man who ever walked on earth: "Solomon had more riches and wisdom than all the other kings on earth!" (see 1 Kings 10:18-25). Jewish people in Jesus's day looked up to Solomon's example and aspired to gain just a little of his wealth.
But Jesus turned the accepted wisdom of his day on its head: "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns." (Luke 12:15)
Instead, Jesus says, you should pray for the things that really matter in life. “But seek God’s kingdom, and all the other things you need will be given to you” (Luke 12:31).
The photo (by Sheri Oz) shows expensive spices for sale at Akko (Acre) market.
You can read more of Jesus's teaching @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/jesus-teaches-how-to-rec…/