Family relationships… can be tricky.  They can be fun, accepting and forgiving.  But some are really difficult.  Think about this real-life drama Jesus used to expose greed.  It involved an inheritance passed down from one family member to another.

“Someone in the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’  Luke 12:13 NASB

How did Jesus respond?  Not as I would have.  Whose side did He take?  He didn’t!

“But He said to him, ‘Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?’”
Luke 12:14 NASB

No details are given about this man’s desire to share in the family inheritance with his brother.

By the answer Jesus gave, could a judge or arbitrator have given the family inheritance to the “someone’s” brother?

A lot is implied in this situation – was the “someone” unfairly treated?  Or was he desperate to have more money?  Perhaps the father gave him much money in the past.

We don’t know the circumstances behind the “someone’s” public outburst in the crowd around Jesus.  Was he wanting, greedily wanting, what was legally not his?

Listen to what Jesus said… and come to your own conclusions.

“Then He said to them (the crowd), ‘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.”  Luke 12:15

Jesus is warning us, you and me, to remember, to think through our abundance – whatever that is; our life does not depend on what we possess.

~ Take it to heart ~

  Are you like the “someone” who greedily asks for more than what you possess?