The Danger Of Bigger Barns

Have you ever been in a group of people with a serious conversation taking place only to have someone suddenly ask a question that has nothing to do with what has been the topic of conversation? This is exactly what took place in Luke 12. Jesus was speaking to a large gathering of people that had come to hear Him, when He began to address His disciples with specific warnings of things to come. This included the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, and Jesus telling His disciples that they were far more valuable than many sparrows, and that He knew even the very number of hairs on their heads.

He then began to tell them of persecution that would come. They would be brought into the synagogues, before magistrates and authorities, all because they would confess Jesus and not deny Him before men; but not to worry how to answer and what to say, “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Very reassuring words to hear when you know what you will soon have to face. With this being the serious topic of conversation, someone in the crowd makes a strange request of Jesus….”Teacher, tell my brother to divide his inheritance with me.” What?

It makes you wonder if this person was paying attention? Obviously not, but Jesus took this occasion and used it as a teachable moment. After letting this man know that He was not the judge or arbitrator in this matter, He proceeded to tell a parable about covetousness. We may think that this is not a big deal, but there is a real danger in being covetous. Remember that the tenth commandment is “you shall not covet”

What does it mean to be covetous? It means to be greedy, and avarice, which is to have an excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain. The danger lies in the heart of the matter, and that is what Jesus used this parable to teach us. It is not about the desire to get ahead and to prosper in what we do; it is when the desire becomes so overwhelming that it becomes greed; greed to the point of “building greater places to store more.”

There is big difference in saving and storing away without ever giving and investing in others. Jesus is teaching us the difference by telling us what this certain rich man did. He saw how successful he had become, and how his ground had yielded plentifully. “And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? So he said, I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods…and I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, be merry.” Notice it is all about him….I, me, and my!

The first danger was that he took all the credit for himself. Scripture is very clear that it is God that gives us the means to work….”And you shall remember that the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, in order to confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deut 8:18 He gives us the very breath of life. When we do not acknowledge Him as our provider, we will become proud and greedy. Our goods are meant to supply our needs, and to prosper our families; but they are not meant to store up greedily without acknowledging The Giver, nor are we to hoard and not invest in what moves the heart of God on this earth.

The greedy heart also says, “I have plenty, now I can simply sit back and eat, drink, and be merry.” His treasure was all about storing up, gathering, heaping up and reserving all for himself. Jesus called him a fool! “Fool! This night your soul will be required of thee; then whose will those things be which you have provide?” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 tells us that, He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly nor of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Jesus told us to lay up treasure….but not for ourselves. “He who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” and “but lay up treasure for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:20-21