The Parable of the Rich Fool

 

Luke 12:13-21  New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴ Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” ¹⁵ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

¹⁶ And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 

EXPLANATION: Jesus, in dealing with the issue of dividing inheritance,comes up with the parable of a rich man who has yielded abundant harvest but has no place to store his crops. He decided to build a bigger barn to store his surplus grain. He was happy with the harvest and he believed it will last for many years.

God called him a fool because he stored up produce for the present and future without considering God the giver of life, can demand for his life at any time. If he demands for his life now, he will not enjoy the things he had prepared for himself.

As a christian, you are expected to give to the poor and needy from the abundance of blessings God has given to you.

PRAYER: Father, I ask for the grace to help the needy at all times in Jesus' Name.

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