A fool seeks the things of this world rather than a rich relationship with God. Before we decide we are in the clear, let’s ask ourselves some tough questions. Am I really living for God? Am I willing to give my riches for His glory? Join us on this soul-searching study of Luke 12:13-21.
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Welcome to Walking in the Word, the biblical teaching arm of the Women World Leaders podcast. My name is Julie Jenkins, and it is my honor to walk with you as we study scripture together on this, the Wednesday edition of our podcast. We are currently walking through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – seeking to see Jesus’ life on earth from all the angles God gives us and learn what He has to teach us today.
If you have been a Christ-follower for a while, I know you can attest WITH me that our learning about God and His Word is unending. The depth of His instruction is profound, and though our minds and spirits are prayerfully growing in Him, we ALL have a long way to go. So if you are new to Bible study and feel like you are “behind” or simply “don’t understand” – please have patience with yourself. None of us have arrived, we are all growing and learning together. No teacher or leader has all the answers – if they say they do, that is a strong indication that you should look to learn from someone else. Only God is the perfect guide – and we are all in this together! All that to say, I’m glad you have joined us on this imperfect journey!
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Let’s dive in, shall we? Today’s scripture comes from the book of Luke, chapter 12, verses 13-21. Before we begin, let’s pray.
Dear Most Holy God, we give you this time today and ask you to teach us and guide our thoughts as we study your Word. Father, I ask that you forgive us of any sin, reveal to us how we have disobeyed or come against you, and soften our hearts, enabling us to clearly understand what you want us to know today. We give you this time, for your glory alone. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
As we enter into today’s scripture, let’s remember where we are. Luke is piecing together for us Jesus’ and the disciples’ evangelical journey. As they travel, we see Jesus gaining a larger following, more staunch adversaries, and even a certain amount of respect. It was customary for people to approach a rabbi to ask him questions regarding the Mosaic law, and as we enter into today’s scene, we see one crowd-member approach Jesus as the authority.
But this man does not, in essence, ask for wisdom from Jesus. Instead, he tries to coerce Jesus into standing up for him regarding a family dispute.
Let’s begin in Luke, chapter 12 verse 13 from the New Living Translation.
13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.”
Already I want to pause and ask – how often do we go to Jesus and, instead of seeking His will and wisdom, tell Him what WE think, need, or desire?
Jesus knows EVERYTHING! He KNOWS what we need, how we operate, what will happen tomorrow, what our reactions will be to each circumstance, and He can untangle any web of personalities and motives in EVERY situation. AND…Jesus loves us more than we can imagine. So what right do WE think we have to tell Him what to do? Oh…He wants us to come to Him with everything —our needs, wants, anger and joy. But if we REALLY trust Him, doesn’t it make more sense for us to come to Him asking for His wisdom and His will to be done in our lives?
Oh…now I realize that this may be hitting on a sore point…one of those areas where we just want to look away. Because we CRAVE control, and we think WE know best. I saw a t-shirt the other day that said, “It’s okay if you disagree with me.” And then, in very small type below, it said, “I can’t force you to be right.”
Isn’t that how we think? That we are right, and anyone who thinks differently than we do is wrong? I am checking myself here. Askinig…How often do I go to God in prayer and ask Him to make my situation turn out the way I want it to turn out?
That’s what this man was doing. He didn’t care what Jesus thought. He was, in fact, so self-focused that he assumed from the git-go that he was right. And he just wanted Jesus, the authority, to back him up.
No wonder Jesus answered him with a question! And then went on to teach the man a thing or two.
Verse 14…
14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
The man came to Jesus over a financial dispute with his brother. Claiming inheritance was a big issue in Jesus’ day. The firstborn son had more rights and esteem than the other children in any family. So this man was fighting for money, but he was also fighting for his worth in society. On the surface, this is not a wrong thing to be concerned with, but Jesus says Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.
We live in a greedy society. And even though we, as Christians, might stand against greed, it is difficult to guard our hearts completely from greed. It’s Christmas season – the season of giving – but how many times, as we are shopping for others, do we buy for ourselves? The merchants bank on our greed by offering buy one get one free or other promotions. The other day, my daughter called to tell me that one of her favorite stores was offering a promotion. If you spent $150, you would receive a $100 gift card to spend just days before Christmas. My daughter was eager to tell me because she could, effectively, nearly double her gift. While my first thought was – yeah, I can spend $150 on you now and $100 on ME later.
We all have different perspectives. And greed threatens to seep into our souls when we aren’t even looking – Jesus warned about this. And then He gave an illustration…
Verse 16…
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
This is such a short parable that is SO rich with meaning!
The man in the story was wealthy – he had been blessed with a fruitful harvest.
But instead of lifiing his hands in praise to God – for God owns and orchestrates all things – he said to himself – “What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.”
The situation was perplexing to the man. It made him think…but it didn’t make him think of his creator.
Have you ever played the game, what would I do if I won the lottery? Oh, the dreams we can imagine – yachts, beach homes, trips, an endless wardrobe. What WOULD you do if you won the lottery? Perhaps the right answer is: Ask God what I should do with the money.
That thought didn’t cross the man’s mind in the story. Instead, he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
The man was focused on himself. And apparently, he was tired of working, because he wanted to sit back and take it easy. He wanted to eat, drink and be merry.
Let’s look at a life of leisure from a biblical perspective. Does God ever call us to do NOTHING with our lives? Oh, we are to rest, we are to be still and trust God’s provision, but are we ever to do NOTHING?
In Ephesians 4:28, we are told to do something with our own hands SO THAT we may have something to share with others.
Philippians 3:12-14 tells us that we are to press on to attain all that God has set before us.
And Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us that we are to run with perseverance.
It is the devil who wants us to be lazy, to stop achieving, to stop striving to be all that God has called us to be.
And it is also the devil who tempts us with greed, telling us that if we hold everything tightly, we can rest on our laurels and never have to work again.
There is nothing wrong with earning a good living and there is nothing wrong with being responsible with the money we have, including preparing for retirement and helping other family members achieve their dreams. But notice that the man in the story was not merely being responsible – he was heading directly toward lethargy. And he was heading there alone.
Notice, he said… What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, (this man is so alone in life that he calls HIMSELF “Friend”) you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
God did not create us to exist in a vacuum! As Christians, God calls us to community! He calls us to care for each other, to be aware of each other, to reach down and help each other up when we fall. We are the body of Christ – we were never meant to go it alone. Greed is more than hoarding finances. Greed consists of hoarding our gifts, our time, our position, and our power. Greed is an unquenchable thirst, and it guarantees that we will never be satisfied.
In verse 20…God calls the man a fool.
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
The original Greek term used here that is translated as “fool” means that not only was this man stupid, but he was also morally and spiritually deficient. This same word is used in Psalm 14:1, which says, “Only fools say in their hears, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and their actions are evil.”
Oh…we struggle with greed. But if we go to God, believing HE is right and seeking His wisdom, He will continually guide us down the path of righteousness. He will continue to enrich our relationship with Him and infuse the spirit of generosity into our very beings.
Learning to know God is a slow process – because His very being is so deep! And learning to be like Him will take us more than a lifetime of steps and missteps. But although the well runs deeper than we can even know, we shouldn’t ever be afraid to dive in!
God, when we go to Him, will sanctify us, cleanse us, and refine us.
Don’t be a fool…instead of greedily holding onto money, power, or fame, let go of all those earthly treasures and ask God what you should do with them. He will use your obedience to lavish on you the riches of a relationship with Him that is greater than any kind of riches the world can ever offer.
Pray with me…
Dear Most Holy God – YOU are the treasure we seek this Christmas season and EVERY season. Father, thank you for the earthly provisions you have given us, but please NEVER let those take the place of you in our lives. Never let us hoard all you have gifted us with. Never let us rest on our laurels. Thank you, Father God, for continuing to guide as we grow closer to you. We seek you, and we humbly request your wisdom in all we do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.