Luke 12:13-31
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith! And do not keep seeking what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that seek all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:13-31 (NRSVUE)
The Parable of the Rich Fool is one of the easier parables to get an understanding of. But just for fun, let’s take a deeper look at a few things. What is the meaning of fool in the Bible? From multiple sources, I was able to find that a fool is not just someone who doesn’t think things through, but is also someone who rejects God and His ways. So why specifically is the rich man a fool? Is it because he saved money? No, actually, it’s a good thing to be secure. Let’s take another look at verse 15, “And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” That leads us to something the Bible frequently addresses: greed. It’s the effects of greed that are the issue. In the short parable, the word “my” is said 5 times within 4 verses. Instead of caring for others or for God, he only cared about himself, which is why he is described as a fool.
And as easily God blessed him, it could all be taken away. I think that is why the next heading of the verses is called “Do Not Worry”. I know it’s hard not to worry about life; I am an over-thinker myself. Every devotion I’ve written since becoming a Daily Devotion writer has somehow led to trusting in God. Maybe that should have been my word of the year. We are reminded of this in the Greatest Commandment: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV) So, as we go into this Holiday season, remember to love others and to trust God to take care of us.
Questions for Reflection:
- What is something that you can do to care for others?
- Why do you think it’s important to care for others?
Prayer:
Dear God,
Help us to be there for one another,
To be gracious and support people who need help.
Let us be your servants,
And to lift you up as we care for others.
Amen
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