Knowing The Word in Luke 12:13-21

The Parable of the Rich Fool

12:13 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 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.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 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. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Comments

The man in the crowd wanted Jesus to declare the inheritance issue in his favor, but Jesus rejected his request and used the opportunity to teach. Jesus addressed him as “man,” meaning “stranger.” Already we know that this man is distanced from Jesus, not knowing the heart of God. He warns him to guard himself, especially from the specific temptation of covetousness that reveals the attitude of one’s heart. Jesus came to bring people to God, not possessions to man, a timely and an appropriate teaching in this age of affluence.

Jesus saw that this man had an issue not only with covetousness but with control. The stupid thinking of the man in the parable was that he was in control of his own future. We are not in control. Only God is in control. Furthermore, people who are not rich toward God are fools. To be “rich toward God” means to put him first, above ourselves and everyone else, abandoning covetousness and control. Holding on to covetousness and control lead us away from a joyful life with God, who provides for our greater needs.

Application

A good response to this teaching is to reflect on where we have issues of covetousness and control in our own lives. Make of list of these things and then pray over them, considering where you are rich toward God and where you are not.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, assist me in giving these areas of covetousness and control over to you. I want to lay up treasures in heaven, being rich toward God, and align my priorities and values with his.