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Bible Reading Plan

Reading Plan: Luke 12:13-21

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

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Daily Devotional: But I Might Wear It

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

I have a closet full of clothes. Most of them I don’t wear. Many I only keep because I might wear them again. Someday. But I own plenty of shirts, shoes, pants, sweaters, socks, belts, ties, and hats that haven’t seen the light of day in years. The sale items I couldn’t pass up now get passed over daily. Sentimental gifts that once brought joy are tucked away in a dark corner. As I share, I’m aware that this observation is more of a confession: Part of my heart is trapped in my wardrobe.

Hearts get tethered to treasure. It’s a universal problem according to Jesus. But He doesn’t call us to simply observe, we’re called to confess and change course. In my case, I’ve come to realize that I keep stuff squirreled away for way too long. I do it because I’m afraid of not having enough, forgetting valuable memories, and a host of self-preserving values and worries. Then along comes Jesus’ redirection: “Store up what matters, what lasts, what honors God forever.”

Christ’s invitation is to follow Him by being open-handed to become open-hearted. It turns out, I don’t need to hold onto stuff. My calendar, my wallet, and my wardrobe all belong to God. He provides. He guides. And I can focus on loving Him and whoever He puts in my path. This fundamental shift in values and priorities starts with observation but transformation flows from action.

This year I started purging my closet. Why? Because as my heart has changed, I’ve started recognizing the needs of others. What I will probably never wear someday could be worn by someone else today. I don’t share this to brag. And my wardrobe is still far from sparse. I simply offer it as my confession and course correction to encourage anyone else willing to explore how their heart is tethered to treasure.

Next Steps

A quick inventory of your calendar, bank statement, or closet can reveal a lot about what matters most to you. If you’re open to finding out what your heart truly treasures, take time to review one of these areas of your life. Invite a trusted friend to join you as you ask God for perspective and redirection.

Is your wardrobe packed with items someone else could wear today? Click here to explore ways to donate to the Willow Creek Care Center.