How easy it is to get caught up in the things of this world. Jesus had a very specific lesson for a fool in Luke 12.

Luke 12:13-21

13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me."

14 But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

Our Lord sees deep within the heart of this man, and sees the problem of greed. He doesn’t address the request, but simply says, “who appointed Me judge over you?” This is the fool ignoring the fact that time may be short, and concentrating on the things of this earth.

Notice Jesus doesn’t answer him, but addresses this parable to the CROWD. He is not just addressing greed, but life!

15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

16 And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive.

17 "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, "What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?'

18 "Then he said, "This is what I will do: 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 many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."'

20 "But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'

21 "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

How would you live if you believed the time was short? The real outlook we need to have is in:

James 4:13-14

13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."

14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

There is nothing wrong with having much! Our Lord never attacks wealth, He attacks motives and priorities. He warns people about being blinded by what they have (or don’t have!) when in reality time could be short. We should enjoy our health, our children, our mate, or whatever blessings we may have because the time may be short for us to enjoy them.

When you realize that tonight, your soul may be required of you, it has a way of correcting your perspective. When you realize we all end up in the grave, it does wonders for you greed here on earth! There is nothing wrong with owning things, but there is a serious problem when things own us.

One other point – it was not wrong for the man to plan ahead and build larger barns to store his crops. Jesus never says not to plan ahead! But the fool made a fatal mistake - He forgot about his soul! He thought only in terms of the tangible; what he could see, touch, and hold on to. These are the treasures that you cannot take with you when you go, but Jesus did say we could send some things on ahead:

Matthew 6:19-21

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

When you plan for the future, think of eternity. When you think eternally, it will do wonders for your planning! If you realize what you CAN take with you for all of eternity, that’s where you will place your greatest priority.