Someone in the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me…’ (Luke 12:13-21)
Jesus tended not to get involved in personal disputes between individuals, however, the question asked of him here gave him the opportunity to offer us a valuable lesson on how we should seek to live our lives each day. So what does it say to us?
The man who asked Jesus this question would appear to be very selfish and never saw beyond himself, or his own needs and desires. We have no idea of the full circumstances of his brothers’ life, yet that appears to be of little consequence to this man. He is only interested in himself and gaining whatever he can for himself. As Christians we are called to share what we have with others, particularly those who have so little and if ever we need reminding of that the remaining verses of this parable are a stark reminder.
As well as never looking beyond himself this man never looked beyond this this world and his time here on earth. All his plans were based and made on the life he enjoyed here and now with no thought given to his eternal soul. Those who do likewise might be destined for a shock one day – that’s the stark warning that we are given here.