“Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” (Proverbs 23:5 NKJV)
While the Lord Jesus was teaching the multitude, one man from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
But the Lord Jesus sharply responded, saying, “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.” (Luke 12:13-15 NKJV).
The Lord Jesus gave a parable about a certain rich but foolish man to warn us against the covetousness and deceitfulness of riches. It is wise to pay close attention to Jesus’ warning to beware of covetousness and the deceitfulness of riches.
Let us consider the Parable of the Rich Fool.
Luke 12:16-21 – NKJV
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
17 “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’
18 “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.
19 ‘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.”‘
20 “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?’
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
The Scripture teaches that God gives good things to His children liberally or generously to enjoy and share with others. God delights in you having abundance for every good work.
Paul testifies, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8 NKJV).
God is not against the rich man in this parable for having abundance or plenty. It was God who blessed and caused his ground to yield plentifully.
Why was God displeased with this man, having blessed him with abundance?
Let us explore the parable!
First, this rich man failed to acknowledge God as the source of his blessing.
When the man’s ground yielded plentifully, he failed to acknowledge God as the source or giver of the blessing or the abundance he had received. Instead, he attributed the blessing to his wisdom, power, or self-effort.
Therefore, he said to his soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luke 12:19 NKJV).
The Scripture teaches that God is the source and giver of blessings.
“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” (John 3:27 NKJV).
“The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” (Prov. 10:22 NKJV).
“For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Cor. 4:7 NKJV).
Like this rich fool, when you fail to acknowledge, recognize, or admit that all you have or possess in life is a gift from God, your soul will be puffed up, and you will be boastful, haughty, arrogant, and ungrateful to God for His blessings.
Second, this rich man didn’t recognize that he was a mere steward of God’s resources.
In the parable, this rich but foolish man erroneously regarded himself as the proud owner of what God had entrusted to his care. He failed to see himself as a steward of God’s resources or blessings.
Therefore, he would not consult or look up to God for instructions on what to do with the abundance God had blessed him with. Instead, the man drew up his selfish plan on what to do with God’s blessings.
In his foolishness, the man 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.” (Luke 12:17-21 NKJV).
How mistaken was he?
He died without tasting a single thing from the harvest!
As God’s steward, you must consult with God and receive specific instructions on spending, investing, sharing, or distributing His resources entrusted to your care.
Third, this rich man placed his complete trust in his riches or abundance.
Not only did this rich fool in the parable fail to acknowledge God as the actual source and owner of the plentiful harvest his ground yielded and see himself as a steward or manager of God’s resources, but he also chose to repose his trust or confidence in his abundant possessions and not in the living God.
This rich but foolish man trusted in his riches and not in God for long life, peace, joy, comfort, and a secure future. He, therefore, said to his soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luke 12:19 NKJV).
How mistaken was he?
The Scripture states, “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.” (Luke 12:16-21 NKJV).
It is the deceitfulness of riches to think that money is the almighty solution to all your problems. Only a fool believes that having riches guarantees lasting peace, joy, or a long life in this evil world.
The Scripture warns that riches offer no insulation or protection from the troubles and distresses of life.
“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” (Prov. 11:4 NKJV).
“For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” (Prov. 27:24 NKJV).
“He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.” (Prov. 11:28 NKJV).
“Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” (Prov. 23:5 NKJV).
Apostle Paul also warns rich believers against trusting in uncertain riches.
Paul instructed Timothy to “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Tim. 6:17-19 NKJV).
Fourth, this rich man didn’t know God’s purpose for blessing him with abundance.
This rich but foolish man didn’t know God’s purpose for blessing him with a plentiful harvest or abundance. He erroneously concluded that the abundance was only for personal or selfish enjoyment.
This rich fool didn’t know that God blessed him with much abundance, not just for his sake but for the sake of the poor and the needy around him. He was blessed with sufficiency for himself and his family and had abundance to share with widows, orphans, and the poor.
Sadly, the rich fool thought God’s blessing was meant for his consumption only. That is why his only plan was to store up his plentiful harvest only for his selfish enjoyment, to gratify or indulge his soul.
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.” (Luke 12:18-20 NKJV).
Beloved, it is sheer ignorance or foolishness to think that God blesses you only for your sake or for your selfish enjoyment.
The Scripture teaches that God blesses or entrusts His resources to our care for the expansion of His Kingdom on the earth and for every good work (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
Paul states, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8 NKJV).
“You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God; for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God.” (2 Cor. 9:11-12 RSV).
Therefore, “be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1 Tim. 6:18-19 NKJV).
Prayer:
Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me daily to be a faithful steward of the resources God has entrusted to my care, in Jesus’ name. Amen.