The Rich Fool

“Parable: The Rich Fool”

Luke 12:13-21

Name calling begins when someone has a perceived power over another. “Jerk, nerd, and stupid,” all have many meanings and if you are the one being called these things how do you respond? But what if someone called you a fool? Would it be a good thing or not? In the parable of the rich fool Jesus forces all of his listeners including us to face some searching questions about themselves.

Someone in the crowd asks Jesus, “Tell my brother to divide his inheritance with me. “ Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter/ mediator between you?” Watch out. Guard against all kinds of greed because a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Jesus then tells this parable. A rich man has ground that produced a good crop. His problem arises when he realizes that he has no place to store the crops. So he decided to tear down his smaller barns, build bigger ones and then store all the grain and goods that he has. Content with himself he would then be able to state, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”

But God says to the man, You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? “

Jesus then states, “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Jesus was asked to mediate a property inheritance but refused to be drawn into such a role. His task was to bring people to God not property to people. And so he warns his listeners to be careful and learn that life does not consist of possessions. He is warning them against greed. He then tells the story of a man defined by selfishness, materialism, hedonism (looking after self). Then describes this man as a fool for making choices as if God does not exist and who lives as if God has not spoken. He is also a servant for God alone controls life. And he is really a pauper having worked hard for little. He invested in the passing not in the permanent.

Are you a fool and searching for fulfillment in possessions? Or are you seeking God’s direction for your life knowing that you will have enough?

PRAYER:

God of grace show us how foolish we are in wanting things; acquiring things needing things when what we really and only need is you. Help us O God to realize this so that we may not be rich fools but disciples in faith living for you. Amen.

BLOG QUESTION

A part of being a disciple of Christ is to live not in poverty or in riches, but to live knowing that you are loving others and helping others to grow and be whom God calls you to be. Which is better? To be a rich fool or a faithful disciple- how do you respond?

Please respond to: http://revcathysblog.blogspot.ca

[For further reading:  Gary Inrig, “The Parables: Understanding What Jesus Meant” Discovery House Publishers. 1991.]