The Parable of the Rich Fool Luke 12:13-21

Introduction Imagine your giving a serious public talk –It’s a subject you are passionate about –You are in the middle of the topic –You are building to a climax –Then someone interrupts and makes an off- topic comment This parable will be Jesus’ response to such a circumstance

Setting Lk 12:1-3 –Jesus teaching a large crowd –Warning about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees Lk 12:4-7 –Teaching about fearing God Lk 12:8-12 –Instruction about confessing Christ before men

A request Luke 12:13 –A man asks Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute –Shows where his thoughts have been while Jesus talked Not on spiritual matters But on how to get money from his brother Perhaps like some may be thinking about baseball or football during a sermon

Jesus’ response Luke 12:14 –“Man” – Not as rude as it sounds in English Used in Lk 5:20 (some translate it “friend”) –Refuses to get involved in worldly things The government already had means for settling such questions His purpose was not to replace civil authority Religious teachers today would do well to follow Jesus’ example

Jesus’ response Luke 13:15 –Addressed to all the audience –Greed (as demonstrated by the questioner) is a sin almost everyone wrestles with Greed is the desire for MORE –Life is not about how many things you have Even if you have a lot of things To illustrate, Jesus tells a parable

The Parable Luke 12:16-19 –A rich man has a very good harvest –He must decide what to do with the excess His current barns (adequate for all preceding harvests) are not enough Decides to tear down those barns and build bigger barns Then he can retire and live off the income from selling the produce

“Modernizing” the parable Jesus’ parable was meant to step on toes, so we’ll try to get the same impact … There was a well-paid employee –He got a great promotion –He was blessed with a salary and benefits more than he needed to live –He needed to decide what to do with the extra –He decided to invest it (IRA, 401k, stocks, etc) –Then he figured he could retire and live off the income

Finishing the parable Lk 12:20 –God calls him a fool (lit. “without a mind”) –The man would die that very night –Who would make use of those things he had prepared?

Analyzing the parable The man assumes life consists of his possessions –What he has is his and is purely for his benefit –Fails to know when he has enough for himself God not opposed to taking care of self and family Each needs to know when there is enough –Fails to consider other uses for excess –Considers self to be the source of his blessing A better response would be as in Ps 116:12

Applying the parable Luke 12:21 –All who store riches for self and are not rich toward God are in the same position –If your plans for the future focus on self and not on God and others, then God would say you have lost your mind –Should make us squirm when we consider our own visions of the future Not that all plans are evil, but see James 4:13-17

How can we be rich toward God? 1 Tim 6:17-19 –A willingness to be parted from the riches –Using what one has to help others 1 Timothy 6:6-12 –Be content with food and clothing –Don’t want to be rich –Don’t love money –Rather flee from them and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, etc

How???? Some may be thinking, “How? We have to live. The kids have to go to college. I may have medical bills. There may be a disaster….” Jesus answers all those questions –Luke 12:22-32 It’s a matter of faith and trust It’s a matter of priorities

How???? Still having trouble with the idea? –Jesus has a radical solution –Luke 12:33-34 –Get rid of the source of your problem The same advice he gave to the rich young ruler –Matt 19:21 If you get rid of the possessions, then they won’t be a concern You won’t “buy your way” into heaven, but it will show where your heart is

Conclusion One can store up vast amounts of treasure –But it will not make one rich toward God To be rich toward God –Our priorities must change (from self to God) –Our heart must be with the new priorities –Our actions must follow from that change of heart Any less is simply unacceptable to God