GREETS YOU!

Bible Reading this Evening: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

The Parables of Jesus: The Introduction. September 10, 2017 The Dragnet. November 5, 2017 The Hidden Treasure. November 12, 2017 The Parable fo the Sower. September 17, 2017 The Pearl of Great Price. November 19, 2017 The Wheat&the Tares. October 1, 2017 The Workers in the Vineyard. Dec 3, 2017 The Growing Seed. October 8, 2017 The Mustard Seed. October 15, 2017 The Unmerciful Servant. December 10, 2017 The Persistent Widow. February 11, 2018 The Leaven. October 21, 2017

The Rich Fool

Luke 12:13-21 13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 “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. 19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Jesus responds to a request that is made Jesus has been teaching a great multitude

He had warned them of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Lk 12:1-3 He taught them the importance of fearing God. Lk12:4-7 He instructed them about the need to confess him before men. Lk 12:8-12

Soon, one from the multitude makes a request. He wants Jesus to resolve a family dispute over an inheritance! Luke 12:13... “Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” This question reveals:

Where the mind of the man was when Jesus was preaching. He had not thought about what Jesus was teaching. He was thinking of the inheritance!

Jesus shows his displeasure by calling him: Jesus' response: Did Jesus get mad? Luke 13:14... “But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” Of course he did! Jesus shows his displeasure by calling him: MAN

The term “man" is a frigid way to answer to a carnal request. But Jesus knew what this man's problem was. Covetousness or greed.

Luke 13:15a... “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness...” When we desire for more and more it becomes covetousness or greed. This is a problem that we all need to look at really close.

Luke 13:15b... “For one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses...” The life that Jesus is talking about involves not only earthly but spiritual life too. We need to understand: money WILL NOT take you to heaven

The parable summarized: Let's see the parable. The parable summarized: Luke 12:16... “Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. As he considers his riches, he makes plans for the future.

1. He wants to build larger barns... Luke 12:17-18... “17“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.

He plans to retire and to enjoy life for many years. Luke 12:19... “19 ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” What would he say to his soul? Soul...

Does he know he has a soul? You have laid up many goods.

For many years... How many? 10,20,30,40? How many? Take it easy!

Eat... And be merry... Drink...

But yet with all his plans God tells him he is a fool. Luke 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

Because that very night he is to die. Fool... Because that very night he is to die. And all his work?

He believed that these would give him many more years of life... The parable analyzed.. This man believes that life consists of the things one has. The crops were his... He believed that these would give him many more years of life...

The foolishness of the rich man is seen in: He did not know his own self.. He did not know he was a mortal. 2. He did not know the he would not live many years. 3. He does not consider that riches really can’t satisfy his soul.

He does not consider the needs of others. He thinks only of himself. Note the "I's" and "My's" in Luke. Clearly, we can see that in this passage we are seeing an ATHEIST.

He did not glorify God!!! Psalm 116:12... For all practical purposes, he is an Atheist! He mentions many things, the plans are to re-build, store, eat, drink, have fun, and he never mentions God in his life nor in his plans.... 100% ATHEIST! Psalm 116:12... What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?

The parable applied: As in all his teachings, Jesus would give the application for us: Luke 12:21...“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

If we make plans for the future and focus on self, If we want to accumulate riches for ourselves, we become like this rich fool. If we make plans for the future and focus on self, and not on God, we are like this fool.

There is nothing wrong with planning...The error comes here: James 4:13-16... “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”; 14whereas 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. 15Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Being rich toward God... Ephesians 1:3 Luke 12:33,34 Being in Christ is absolutely required... Ephesians 1:3 The proper use of the riches can help... Luke 12:33,34

Jesus said to the young rich man: Matt.19:21. Paul told Timothy to command those rich: 1 Tim.6:17. Dot not misunderstand We are NOT buying our way to heaven...

encourages his disciples... But Jesus said: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart will be also." Mat 6:19-21 Notice how Jesus encourages his disciples...

If we do this, God will do two things: He reminds them how God takes care of us Luke 12:22-30. The key is to have treasures in heaven Luke.12:31 If we do this, God will do two things: 1. He will give us all the basic needs. Luke.12:31 2. He will give us the kingdom of heaven. Luke 12:33

Make treasures for oneself. From this parable we have learned that we can: Make treasures for oneself. Not be rich toward God.

Where are your treasures my brother? Are you storing for the day to come? 1 Timothy 6:6-10 [6] Now godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. [9] But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.