Luke 12:13-21

Living Bible

¹³ Then someone called from the crowd, “Sir, please tell my brother to divide my father’s estate with me.”

¹⁴ But Jesus replied, “Man, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? ¹⁵ Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.”

¹⁶ Then he gave an illustration: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. ¹⁷ In fact, his barns were full to overflowing—he couldn’t get everything in. He thought about his problem, ¹⁸ and finally exclaimed, ‘I know—I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones! Then I’ll have room enough. ¹⁹ And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Wine, women, and song for you!”’^[a]

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. Then who will get it all?’

²¹ “Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven.”