Luke 12:16  Then Jesus told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly."

A grievance sets the context of Jesus' parable. A person in the crowd asks Jesus to make a decision about a dispute with a brother over the family inheritance. But Jesus does not accept the mantle of being a legal judge. Instead, he responds, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions" (Luke 12:15).

Grievances and litigations abound in our society and in our world. It is a hideous illness that goes to the sinful core of beings. Even when we have an abundance of worldly goods, there is a temptation to hoard what we have. This is what happened to the rich man who had more than enough for himself. "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God" (Luke 12:20-21).

When we seek righteous judgment in our grievances, we may not like the final judgment we deserve. But Jesus comes to render a different judgment on the cross, and abundant supply of his mercy, forgiveness and grace. This is the seed of richness we need. Out of his generosity toward us, we spread around his grace, even our very possessions, for one and all.

-- Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,