Monday, May 18, 2015

The Rich Fool


The Rich Fool

 
II. THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL

A. THE PARABLE SUMMARIZED...
1. A rich man is richly blessed with large crops
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”


2. As he considers his situation, he makes plans for the future

a. To build greater barns to store his crops

b. To retire and enjoy the fruits of his labors for many years

3. Yet God tells him he is a fool!

a. Because that very night he is to die, and his soul will be

required of him

b. And the things he had provided, whose will they be?

B. THE PARABLE ANALYZED...

1. The man assumes that his life consists in the abundance of

things he possesses

a. The crops are his

b. They will provide for his soul for many years to come

2. The foolishness and selfishness of the rich man is seen in

that...

a. He does not know himself

1) He fails to realize that his "body" is mortal, and will

not necessarily live on for many years

2) He does not consider that his riches really can't

satisfy his "soul"!

b. He does not consider the needs of others

1) The needs of the poor are not even taken into

consideration

2) He thinks only of self (note the "I's" and "my's")

c. Nor does he thank and glorify God

1) For all practical purposes, he is an atheist

2) One who truly believes in God would respond like the

Psalmist in


What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”

C. THE PARABLE APPLIED...

1. Jesus makes the application in


So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
 

2. Those who lay up treasure for themselves, and are not rich

toward God, are like this rich fool!

3. If your plans for the future focus on self, and not on God and

others, you are no different than the rich fool

-- This ought to encourage serious reflection in those planning

their retirement!

[Not that it is wrong to plan for the future, but we need to keep in

mind the brevity of life, and the will of the Lord

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

How can we be sure that we who may be rich in this life are also rich

toward God?]

III. BEING RICH TOWARD GOD

A. BEING IN CHRIST IS CERTAINLY REQUIRED...

1. For all spiritual blessings come through Him

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

2. The exceeding riches of God's grace will be shown only through

Christ
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

B. BUT PROPER USE OF MATERIAL RICHES CAN HELP...

1. Notice the words of Jesus, spoken soon after this parable

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

a. He tells them to sell what they have and give alms

b. To provide a treasure in heaven that does not fail

2. Helping the poor is often connected with "laying up treasure

in heaven"

a.  As Jesus counseled the rich young ruler

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

C. NOTICE HOW JESUS ENCOURAGED HIS DISCIPLES IN THIS MATTER...

1. He followed the parable with a reminder of God's loving care

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.33Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.”

2. The key is to make the kingdom (or rule) of God the focus of

our life

 3. For then God will do two things:

a. Provide "all these things" (i.e., things necessary for life

and body)

b. Give you "the kingdom" (i.e., things necessary for the

soul)

4. So they are exhorted to give alms and provide for treasure in

heaven!

 

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