PARABLES OF JESUS FOOLISH RICH MAN

Last week was the story of the wise and foolish builders. Wise upon hearing the Words of Christ, implants them in his heart and does them is on a solid foundation while the foolish person hears the words of God and ignores them.

Today we look at the foolish rich man and how having his heart centered on the wrong things – made him distant from God.

Let us pray!

THE FOOLISH RICH MAN

Luke 12:13–21 – Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Some measure success by a person’s possessions. To God, success is the treasure we have in heaven—

Matthew 6:19–21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

As Christians, our minds should be on spiritual things—

Colossians 3:1–2 – If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Earthly possessions will pass away, but our heavenly treasure will endure forever.

(pictures being buried with riches)

I. The False Riches—v. 15

The person in the crowd had their heart centered on possessions and money and not on people.

Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 – He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

Jesus refuses to be judge over a worldly matter – He came to Judge spiritual matters and matters of the heart –He did the same thing regarding taxes – give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.

A. The Warning—v. 15a. Beware of coveting, which is breaking the tenth commandment—

Watch your heart – watch what you desire

The word Jesus uses here for covetousness is a desire, a lust for more that becomes consuming

Luke 18:25 – For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Exodus 20:17 – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

We should not covet our neighbor’s house, wife, servants, animals, or anything he has!

B. The Wrong—v. 15b. A man’s success or worth is not in earthly possessions. True riches are in Christ. Paul says we brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing with us when we leave—

1 Timothy 6:7-10 – for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Note the folly of self-satisfaction—

Revelation 3:16-17 – So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

What is more important – money and possessions or your relationship with God?

II. The Foolish Reasoning—vv. 16–19

A. Success—v. 16. He had good crops. He should be commended for his foresight and plans. As Christians, we should plan for the future with diligence—

Ecclesiastes 9:10 — Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Colossians 3:23-24 — Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Romans 12:11 — Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Notice he was already rich – the land of a rich man produced a plentiful crop

B. Substance—v. 17. He thought to himself – not prayed – not sought God – thought to himself

He had more crop success than he could use. Nothing is said of helping or giving to the poor; all was for self.

1 John 3:17 – But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

C. Selfishness—v. 18. He would replace the small barns with larger barns. He didn’t seek God’s will in this matter.

4 – I’s

Shall I do

I will tear down

I will build

I will say to my soul

Centered on self

James 4:15-16 – Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

D. Satisfaction—v. 19. He would take his ease and enjoy life. He had all he needed.

Only concern about self- indulgence and not wise use of God’s blessings

Note the futility of gaining the world but losing your soul—

Mark 8:36-37 – For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?

III. The Final Results—vv. 20–21

A. Death—v. 20. God called this man a fool! “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool”—

What happens to your wealth if you die tonight – for us if we die today what happens – something like this (two slides)

Proverbs 28:26 — Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Proverbs 14:9 – Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

He was not preparing for death, which would come that night. Death will come to us

Hebrews 9:27 – at any time – And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Proverbs 27:1 — Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Salvation is not earned – is not bought – by grace alone.

B. Deception—v. 21. “Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven”—Living Bible.

Riches may buy an earthly home, but not a heavenly home.

Fool hoards for themselves but the wise seek God and store treasures in heaven

Matthew 6:19 – 21 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Love for riches often comes between a person and God. A person’s home, job, car, or money will often cause him to backslide. Jesus tells us (Matt. 6:25–34) not to be too concerned with our food, homes, and possessions; if we worry about these, we are like the non-Christian. Put Him first in our lives and all these things will be added unto us—

Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

If you trust in riches you cannot trust in God – riches cannot buy you a ticket into heaven

Seek to be rich in your daily relationship with our Living God!

Let Us Pray!

Related Media

Related Sermons