Introduction Jesus Parable of The Rich Fool Jesus warns against deceptive greed Like today, many in Jesus day were enslaved to greed, covetousness They loved material things above all They valued their worth based on acquiring material things From this parable, they and we need to learn the value of our souls is greater than all material things we can obtain 2 Introduction Unlike other parables, Jesus speaks this one to the crowd and explains the applications Whether we are rich or not, we can be enslaved to material things, always desiring more things Unless changed, like the Rich Fool, we will forfeit our soul 1. Background 2. The parable 3. Applications 3 4 Background While teaching about fearing God and other matters, someone asked a question Jesus answers revealing the sin of greed He follows that up with the parable of the Rich Fool showing the futility of covetousness Fear God Above All Luk 12:4 "I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. Luk 12:5 "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! 5 6
Consequences of Confessing or Denying Jesus Before Men Luk 12:8 "And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; Luk 12:9 but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. Jesus Answers A Distracting Question Luk 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." Luk 12:14 But He said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?" 7 8 Jesus Warns The Crowd Against Greed or Covetousness Luk 12:15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Covetousness Is Idolatry Col 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 9 10 Luk 12:16 And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. Luk 12:17 "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' Luk 12:18 "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my Luk 12:19 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."' Luk 12:20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' grain and my goods. 11 12
Luk 12:21 "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Having An Abundance Of Things Does Not Give Us Control Over Our Life Luk 12:15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." 13 14 Having An Abundance Of Things Does Not Give Us Control Over Our Life Heb 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, We Are Spiritual Beings Dwelling In Temporary Physical Bodies 2Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2Co 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 15 16 We Are Spiritual Beings Dwelling In Temporary Physical Bodies 2Co 4:18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 17 The Foolish Man Thinks Only Of Self And Not Of God And Others Mar 8:34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. Mar 8:35 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. Mar 8:36 "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 18
We Should Make Our Plans With The Lord In Mind Jas 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Jas 4:14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. We Should Make Our Plans With The Lord In Mind Jas 4:15 Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." 19 20 Ecc 5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. Mat 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" 21 22 Joh 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 23 Luk 12:21 "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Luk 12:22 And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Luk 12:23 "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24
Luk 12:31 "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Luk 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Luk 12:33 "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. Luk 12:34 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 25 26 1Ti 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 1Ti 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 1Ti 6:8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 1Ti 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 1Ti 6:18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 27 28 1Ti 6:19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. 29