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The Rich Fool
Introduction
You can read Jesus’ parables hundreds of times and mystery will still remain.
That’s part of what makes these teachings so beautiful—and powerful.Jesus uses parables—metaphors and similes—to help us understand who God is and how he works among us.
Parables teach one main lesson and it is important to understand that one lesson in each parable.
So far we’ve looked at the Kingdom Parables in two main groups - the Kingdom takes Root and the Presence of the Kingdom.
Today we start another grouping of the Kingdom Parables - you see Jesus’ parables can be truly understood only when we experience their value in our lives.
So we will start a study on the Kingdom Alive in Us.
Here, in order to understand God and his kingdom, we have to commit our lives to Jesus as his disciples and accept him as savior (John 3:16–17).
From there, God as Holy Spirit will work in us.
God may be ultimately unknowable, but he certainly can work in us.
And we can see the wonder of his work reflected in other people.
These next 7 or 8 parables teach us about the mystery of living as people who, through our actions, bring heaven to earth.
They teach us what it means to live as people who truly follow Jesus, to live as Kingdom Saints.
Today we will look at the parable of the rich fool and we will find that for kingdom saints: Fear of financial failure should not control your life, since wealth can buy nothing in eternity.
Kingdom saints aren’t greedy, they’re generous.
1.
The Reason for the Parable
vv.
13-15
There is no doubt that we live in a greedy, money-centered society.
The American dream is ‘rags to riches.’
It doesn’t matter if its capitalism or socialism, greed runs the economy.
People will vote on a candidate solely based on economic factors.
2021 was the biggest year ever for corporate profits.
Companies are raising prices quicker than wages can increase to suck every dollar they can from the consumer.
At the same time, of the highest taxes paid by 19 of the fortune 100 companies was 9.9%.
ATT had 29.6 billion in earnings but received an income tax benefit of 1.2 billion - I could go on.
We don’t have trickle-down economics, we have trickle-down greed.
But the situation in our day is no different than any other day.
These first few verses show that people were the same when Jesus was here, ministering on earth.
A. A Family Dispute
A man approaches Jesus with a problem.
His older brother apparently won’t divide the inheritance at all or fairly.
Nothing brings a family together like a funeral right?
We don’t know what the specific problem was but it doesn’t matter - the clear motive is greed
He comes to Jesus as a Rabbi, saying Master.
And he wants him to arbitrate his problem.
B. A Sharp Rebuke
v. 14
Jesus uses a question to rebuke the young man.
Jesus was put off by the man’s request.
See, his interest wasn’t in what he could learn from Jesus but in what he could gain financially by having Jesus by his side.
How often is this how we treat Jesus - we see him not as a true Teacher or Master - we see him as a financial advisor, a Santa Clause of blessings.
Jesus has no interest in settling material disputes who made me judge or arbiter - Jesus didn’t come to deal with such trivial matters - he came to offer eternal salvation.
Better to suffer loss and follow Jesus Luke 9:57-62
Jesus didn’t come to bring us earthly property and possessions, but a heavenly kingdom!
C. A Critical Lesson
Jesus gives two main warnings here:
Take heed, beware of covetousness
Take heed - pay attention!
Be on your guard.
Watch out for greed.
Covetousness / greed is in the ten commandments!
Remember greed is insatiable, desires more and more; another word is grasping, grasping for more - especially in the accumulation of wealth.
Greed can denote the hunger for advanced social standing as well as the desire for wealth.
Wealth usually goes hand in hand with advanced social standing, status, and honor.
This is the idolatry of self and stuff.
Greed is insatiable, wanting more and more, so much so that it pushes God out, leaving the idol only of self and stuff.
2. A man’s life doesn’t consist in the abundance of his possessions
But the abundance of possessions seems to be the only measure these days!
Possessions are a major obstacle to the progress of one’s spiritual life.
Remember in studying the Roots of the Kingdom we saw the parable of the Seed and the Sower.
2. The Telling of the Parable
vv.
16-20
A. The Profitable Harvest
vv.
16-17
v. 16 - example parable - go and do not likewise!
Note that the man was already rich!
Being rich/wealthy is not a sin.
It is not an inherently bad thing.
We see that his harvest brought forth plentifully.
He had a very profitable year.
Nothing is wrong with profit either!
V. 17 - what shall I do - good question
B. The Selfish Plan
vv.
18-19
v. 18 - bad answer.
building his investment portfolio!
Note in these verses all the mentions of ‘I’ and ‘my’.
These are never replaced with God or others or giving.
v. 19 - greedy character clearly seen...hedonistic life
Definitely a worldly philosophy here - live it up!
He’s not interested in using his wealth wisely, to serve God, or to serve others.
He just wants a richer and fuller life for himself.
Only concerned with self-indulgence.
Some of the richest people in the world are the most miserly.
Fred Koch, the billionaire, is a well-known example.
His doorman, in an interview, related how he rarely tipped and if he did, it would never be more than $5.
The doorman wasn’t surprised either when he never received a Christmas card or gift.
But this attitude is not just for billionaires - anyone can find their value in their possessions.
You don’t have to be rich to be a hoarder, but this is a problem more likely for the wealthy.
Do you use your possessions as tools of service for others and for God or just to benefit yourself?
C. The Warning from God
v. 20 - God intrudes into the man’s thinking - fool!
This is the ultimate ‘you can’t take it with you’ parable.
This man is a true fool.
In the Bible a fool doesn’t mean you’re unintelligent or uneducated.
There is a foolish corner in the brain of the wisest man.
Aristotle
No time was available to change his ways.
His life is demanded!
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