Title: Parable of the rich fool
Content br> These are the words of Jesus' parable. This is a parable we often refer to as “the foolish rich”. This parable is the story of a rich man who, in the season of harvest, contemplates his crops as they ripen, and solicits a monologue in his heart.
We know nothing of this person's family background, social status, or personal details. Jesus just said that this man was rich. This man was rich, as Jesus said. This man had a lot of land. We don't know how he got so much land. It is not known whether he inherited it from his parents, whether he was self-made, or whether he was rewarded for making great contributions to the country. In any case, he had a lot of land, which guaranteed him a bountiful harvest year after year. That year was no exception. It was a great harvest. He is thinking in his mind as he gazes at the golden fields that are ready to yield. First of all, he had a small storehouse for his grain, so he made a wonderful plan to demolish it and build a bigger one. After that, with a satisfied heart, he told his soul to rest in peace, eat, drink, and be merry. But at that very moment, God called him and spoke to him.
“You fool, tonight your soul will be required of you, and whose will your preparations be?” (Luke 12:20)
It was a serious question from God and a terrible judgment. First, God called him a “stupid man” and called him that way. And God revealed His plan to take his life on that night when he was thinking and monologue. Finally, God asked, whose property you have prepared this way after you die tonight. After receiving God's question, he did not answer any questions after that. Because, as God had planned, he had his monologue and that night he had a question from God, he died. The words of this parable are easy to misunderstand if you do not fully understand their meaning.
“Does Jesus hate rich people?” “Are all rich people the object of God’s hatred?” These are misconceptions about the question, “What did that man do to be a fool and to receive such terrible punishment from God?” At first glance, he seems to have done nothing wrong. In fact, from a worldly point of view, he is a very successful person and deserves the envy and favor of people.
He was rich. He had a lot of land and had enough things for many years. The rich are welcome everywhere. The poor get scorned. If you pay a lot of money, you can buy a nice house and a luxury car. You can even get first class on an airplane, and you can use good clothes, food, and cosmetics. How comfortable and nice are you?
Not only was he rich, he was also a smart man. He was a man of business talent and brain. He knew how to manage his wealth and knew how to multiply it. Judging by this, he was a promising man. He is a hard worker. After diligently making plans, hiring people, and farming, wouldn't that mean that you had a good harvest?
He also had religious interests and literacy. He thought not only of his visible body, but also of his invisible soul. In a word, he was a rare man with wealth, brilliance, and religion. But why did God call him “a fool” (Luke 12:20)? Did God frame a man who was not foolish as a “stupid man”? Did God misunderstand him and call him that way? What was it? If we take a closer look at this man, we can realize how foolish this man was.
First, this man was utterly selfish.
We can find this fact in his words. In the Korean Bible, the words “I” or “my” when he refers to himself appear all six times, but in the original Bible, they are all used 11 times. The literal translation of verses 17-19 is:
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).
Second, he was dependent on his wealth.
We cannot find in his heart's thoughts and monologues that he relied on God. He was completely dependent on wealth. Riches were his life, his character, his conscience, and his soul.
A person who trusts in wealth is a fool. The wise man Job did not rely on wealth.
“When did I make gold my hope, and when did I say to gold that you are my trust? When did I rejoice in the abundance of riches and the abundance of my hands?” (Job 31:24-25)
The psalmist said that a fool trusts his riches.
“This man did not make himself his strength in God, but trusted in the riches of his riches, and strengthened himself in his own evil” (Psalm 52:7).
Proverbs says that he who trusts in his riches will perish.
“He who trusts in his riches will perish” (Proverbs 11:28).
Why are those who trust in riches foolish and perish? Wealth is not eternal and does not guarantee eternity.
“He sees that the wise perish, and the foolish and ignorant perish as well, and give their wealth to others” (Psalm 49:10).
“How can you pay attention to futility? Surely riches will make wings and fly like an eagle in the sky” (Proverbs 23:5).
“For riches do not last forever; how can crowns last from generation to generation?” (Proverbs 27:24)
A person who trusts in wealth will eventually be deceived by it, and a heart that depends on wealth will prevent them from relying on God, and their soul will eventually be destroyed along with wealth.
Third, he knew that the riches belonged to him.
He said. “My Fruits,” “My Storehouses,” “My Things.” It was his mistaken idea of wealth to think that riches belonged to him. I usually think this way. In my land I have worked my crops with the sweat of mine; is not the grain mine? If you think without thinking, you are right. But if you think deeply, that idea is wrong. Nothing in this world is mine. Man is just a simple steward. We brought nothing into this world and we can't take it with us. Because it's not ours.
“We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7).
There is nothing in this world that is human. This is because man did not create anything of the world, but God created it. God claimed ownership of all material in this world.
“The land shall not be sold forever, for all the land is mine; you are sojourners and sojourners with me” (Leviticus 25:23).
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it, and the world and all that dwell in it” (Psalm 24:1).
“All the beasts of the forest and the livestock of heaven are mine” (Psalm 50:10).
“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:8).
He didn't have anything of his own, but he knew it was his own. How foolish is this man?
Fourth, he believed that man's spiritual happiness lies in riches.
“And I will say to my soul, Soul, many goods are laid up for many years; rest, eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19).
He made a great spiritual error. It was good that he showed interest in the invisible soul, but he thought that the soul would eat grain and rest and be happy. It was a crucial mistake. Grain is what the body needs. It is not necessary for the soul. Just because the body eats grain and is satisfied does not satisfy the soul. Just before giving this parable, Jesus said:
“He said to them, Beware of all covetousness, for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of what he has” (Luke 12:15).
Fifth, he was proud. He thought he was the owner of the soul. And he was even giving orders about his own soul. The owner of the soul is God. Not human.
“O foolish and ignorant people, do you repay the LORD in this way, is he not your Father who obtained you? He made you and established you” (Deuteronomy 32:6).
“All souls belong to me; as the soul of a father is mine, so also the soul of the son is mine; the soul that sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4).
“If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).
Man cannot make his soul happy by his own power. It is the humble attitude of man to place his soul in the hands of God's power. However, this figure is not to be found in this person. He thought he could control even the soul with his own power. This is pride before God.
“My soul, wait quietly for God alone, for my hope will follow him