What is the meaning of the Parable of the Rich Fool?

Response

The Parable of the Rich Fool is located in Luke 12:13–21. The crucial aspect of this parable lies in verse 15 (and is later summarized in verse 21). Luke 12:15 states, “Beware! Guard against all forms of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Jesus addresses this to the man who requested His intervention in a dispute with his brother. In ancient times, the firstborn son was entitled to a double portion of the family inheritance. It is probable that the brother speaking to Jesus was not the firstborn and sought an equal share of the inheritance. Jesus declines to mediate their conflict and focuses on the root issue: greed! Jesus cautions this individual, and all those listening, that our lives should not revolve around amassing wealth. Life encompasses much more than mere “possessions.”

Jesus proceeds to share the Parable of the Rich Fool. This individual had received abundant material blessings from God; his land “yielded an abundant harvest” (verse 16). Despite God’s continuous blessings, instead of utilizing his surplus to advance God’s purposes, he was solely concerned with managing his wealth and accumulating more. Consequently, he constructs larger barns to replace the current ones and begins planning for an early retirement. Unaware that it was his final night on earth, he is confronted with the reality. Jesus concludes the narrative by stating, “This is how it will be for whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Hence, the lesson of the Parable of the Rich Fool is twofold. Firstly, we should not dedicate our lives to the pursuit and amassment of riches. An intriguing observation is made in the parable. God questions the man in the story, “And who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” This mirrors the sentiment expressed in Ecclesiastes 2:18 (“I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me”).

All the time in people who are singularly devoted to the accumulation of wealth. What happens to all that wealth when they die? It gets left behind to others who didn’t earn it and won’t appreciate it. Furthermore, if money is your master, that means God is not « No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. », (Matthew 6:24).

The second point of the Parable of the Rich Fool is the fact that we are not blessed by God to hoard our wealth to ourselves. We are blessed to be a blessing in the lives of others, and we are blessed to build the kingdom of God. The Bible says if our riches increase, we are not to set our hearts upon them «Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart upon them. », (Psalm 62:10). The Bible also says there is one who gives freely and grows all the richer «There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. », (Proverbs 11:24). Finally, the Bible says we are to honor God with the first fruits of our increase (Proverbs 3:9-10). The point is clear; if we honor God with what He has given us, He will bless with more so that we can honor Him with more. There is a passage in 2 Corinthians that summarizes this aptly (2 Corinthians 9:6-15). In that passage, Paul says, “And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that having all contentment in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

We are blessed by God, enabling us to “abound in every good work” and bring blessings to others. Therefore, if God has blessed you with material wealth, do not set your heart on it, but instead, “be rich toward God.” This is the essence of the Parable of the Rich Fool.