LESSONS FROM THE RICH FOOL Luke 12:13-21

The scene: Luke 12:1a In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all,… –Beware of hypocrisy, fear God rather than man, confess Him, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will provide your defense Luke 12:13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

v. 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” ■Jesus is imminently qualified to be a judge. –John 1:1 –John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. –John 1:14 –John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. –John 2:24, 25 –John 2:24, 25 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. (cf. Luke 9:47) –2 Timothy 4:8 –2 Timothy 4:8 …the Lord, the righteous Judge,… ■John 5:22, Romans 2:16

v. 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” ■Jesus’ mission was spiritual in nature. –Luke 19:10 –Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” –John 18:36 –John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” ■1 Peter 2:9, Galatians 6:16, Colossians 1:13

v. 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness,… Covetousness Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament ■Pleonexia ■Pleonexia – greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice ■10 th Commandment – Exodus 20:17 ■10 th Commandment – Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet…

v. 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness,… “Things” must not take God’s place in our hearts. ■Colossians 3:5 ■Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. –1 st Commandment – Exodus 20:3 –1 st Commandment – Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. ■Luke 10:27 ■Luke 10:27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the L ORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’…

v. 15 cont. …for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” “Things” do not bring lasting happiness. ■Ecclesiastes 5:10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. ■Hebrews 13:5 ■Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ■1 Timothy 6:6-10

v. 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.” ■God is the source of blessings. –James 1:17 –James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights… –1 Timothy 6:17 –1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. ■Wealth isn’t an indication of right standing before God. –Matthew 5:45b … –Matthew 5:45b …for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

v. 17, 18 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. The rich fool was selfish. ■Philippians 2:4 ■Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ■Ephesians 4:28 ■Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. ■1 John 3:17, 18 ■1 Timothy 6:17, 18

v. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years;… We don’t know how long we’ll be here. ■Psalm 39:4-6 ■James 4:13, 14 ■James 4:13, 14 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ■Psalm 90:12 ■Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

v. 19 cont., …take your ease; Rest comes after service. ■Hebrews 10:35, 36 ■Hebrews 10:35, 36 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ■1 Corinthians 15:58 ■1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. ■Galatians 6:7-9

v. 19 cont., …eat, drink, and be merry.”’ We should enjoy what God gives us, but we must keep “things” in perspective. ■Ecclesiastes 3:13 ■Ecclesiastes 3:13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. ■1 Corinthians 15:32 ■1 Corinthians 15:32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

v. 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you;… Death and judgment are certainties. ■Hebrews 9:27 ■Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ■2 Corinthians 5:10 ■2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ■John 5:24-30

v. 20 cont., …then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ We can’t take “things” with us when we go. ■1 Timothy 6:7 ■1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ■Ecclesiastes 2:17-19

v. 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” We must prepare for death and judgment. ■Matthew 6:19-21 ■1 Timothy 6:18, 19 ■Matthew 16:26 ■Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Are you ready? ■Believe – John 8:24 ■Repent – Luke 13:3 ■Confess – Matthew 10:32-33 ■Be Baptized – Mark 16:16 ■Be Faithful – Revelation 2:10