Luke 12:13-21 The Parable of the Rich Fool
“Then one from 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 an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Hoo-boy! Jesus is forever getting requests for help, and this morning’s request is a doozy! A young man pushes his way to the front of the crowd with a demand. “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” As the Son of God, Jesus probably looks at this man and knows the whole situation-the father’s death, the struggles over the inheritance, the sibling rivalry that has gone on for years. But Jesus also is wise enough to keep the main thing the main thing. If Jesus assists this man, he will be overwhelmed with others bringing similar complaints. Calvary is fast approaching and Jesus doesn’t have time to settle petty squabbles. Besides, there are already long-standing traditions regarding inheritances. There is no reason for Jesus to become embroiled in this situation.
David Guzik in his Enduring Word Commentary says this: “According to the law of the day, the elder brother received two-thirds of the inheritance and the younger brother received one-third (Barclay). This man did not ask Jesus to listen to both sides and make a righteous judgment; he asked Jesus to take sides with him against his brother.” Guzik goes on to point out that if both brothers were truly following God, the elder would be willing to share while the younger would be more interested in God’s Kingdom than in earthly riches. But obviously, this young man doesn’t see things that way, so Jesus tells one of his most memorable parables.
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Jesus wants this greedy young man to realize that being rich toward God is an eternal condition, while being rich on earth is a temporal one. Accidents, health problems, illnesses-all sorts of tragedies can hit while we’re busy gloating over riches or plotting how to get even more.
There’s a story about two men watching as a hearse bearing the body of the local millionaire passed by. One man asked the other, “How much money did that man leave?” “All of it,” the second man replied simply. We came into this world with nothing, and when we die, we will leave everything we have amassed behind. Paradoxically, the only treasures we can lay claim to are heavenly ones, and that leads to Jesus’ second story.
Luke 12:14-34 Do Not Worry
Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why [d]are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Jesus fully realizes that even though his disciples may not have said anything, they too are concerned about the costs of living. After all, it’s the group of women following Jesus who have been helping provide for his needs as well as for the disciples. What happens if Jesus is taken away? What will they do? How will they survive? True, the disciples have left their homes and businesses, but these men are practical, and they must think of their futures…or must they? Jesus’ answer to that question is simple: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Trust God and He will provide for you. Notice what Jesus is NOT saying. Jesus is NOT saying, “Sit down, fold your hands, and refuse to work.”
John Wesley repeatedly told his followers to “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” When the quiet revolution called Methodism swept through England, former alcoholics stopped drinking and began working industriously. The Methodist movement was noted not only for its piety but also for its practicality, for these people from humble backgrounds became industrious workers, helping those around them. Rather than focusing on personal gain, these people were now magnificent benefactors, despite their humble situations.
There is a glorious old hymn penned by Paul Rader. Paul Rader was one of the foremost evangelists of the early twentieth century, pastoring and founding churches and going on radio in its infancy. Please consider these words:
1. Fear not, little flock, from the cross to the throne, From death into life He went for His own;
All power in earth, all power above, Is given to Him for the flock of His love.
Refrain:
Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe;
Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe.
2. Fear not, little flock, He goeth ahead, Your Shepherd selecteth the path you must tread;
The waters of Marah He’ll sweeten for thee, He drank all the bitter in Gethsemane.
3. Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot, He enters all rooms, “the doors being shut,”
He never forsakes; He never is gone, So count on His presence in darkness and dawn.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, many of us are suffering financially and we are struggling to believe that You will provide for us. Please help us not to overlook anything You have already built into our situations, since any detail might lead to relief in our situations. We ask all this in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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