88. Teaching about Wealth and Material Possessions
13One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.”14But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?”
15And he said to them,“Take heed, and beware of all covetousness;a for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
16And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; 17and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' 18And he said: 'This I will do; I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, be merry.' 20But God said to him, 'Foolish man! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
(Lk. 12:13–21)
a “covetousness”—cov•et•ous adj. [from the French coveitié, covetousness, desire] a: marked by craving and deep desire to own wealth or possessions (it's on your account that he's been so particular about money of late, he was never covetous before—G.B. Shaw) b: having a craving for possession (a man covetous of honors) c: marked by inordinate, culpable, or envious desire for another's possessions (throwing covetous eyes out of their forests on the fields and vineyards of their neighbors—J.A. Froude) (Webster's Unabridged)
Lk. 12:20 him, 'Foolish man! This / him, 'Fool! This (RSV) (165:4/1821–22)
