April 28, 2024

BEYOND WORDS: THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL

April 28, 2024

Scott Bullman

 

Today we continue studying the parables of Jesus, which are stories to go alongside a teachable moment, which illustrate a truth. He wanted the common people to learn how to live in peace and holiness. In Luke 12, we see Him teaching a very large group when a man asked Jesus to tell his older brother to give him his inheritance. Jesus responds not only with words that diffuse the situation, but goes on to explain, in a parable, the dangers of being greedy and discontent with what one has. Do you often wonder how it came about that you have so much “stuff” you don’t use? Join us today as we learn to be content!

Focal Passages: Luke 12:13-21, Gen. 4:7, Prov. 23:4, 15:27, Eccl. 5:10-11, 19, 1 Tim. 6:6-8, Matt. 6:19-20, 2 Cor. 8:9, Phil. 4:12.

THE PARABLE:

• Read Luke 12:13-14. Before we get into the parable about the rich man, what did a random man asked Jesus to do? This wasn’t an act of healing or raising the dead! Why would he assume Jesus would take the responsibility to do what he asked?
• How did Jesus respond? What can you assume about the man? Do you think he may have been from a well-to-do family? What may have been some reasons he wanted Jesus to intervene? Read vs. 15. What problems did the man have?
• Read vv. 16-19. What was the parable Jesus immediately connected to the question that had been asked? Was the farmer’s problem the amount of crops that had been grown? What was wrong with the “barn” idea? Read Matt. 25:24-25. How is that similar to the barns? Did the man grow his own crops? Does it seem to have occurred to him to share any of it or be grateful for how God had blessed him? Read vv. 20-21. How did God respond to his thoughts? Why? What was his internal issue?

GREED:                                                                                                                         

• What are some types of greed you can think of? What do they all have in common? Why is it never enough? Why are we addicted to getting the latest “upgrades”?
• We are constantly desiring “more” in whatever form that takes. What are costs involved in never being satisfied? Read Prov. 15:27, 23:4, Eccl. 5:10-11, 1 Tim. 6:9.
• Why did God call the greedy farmer a fool? Do any of these verses speak to you?

THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT:

• Read 2 Cor. 10:12. Why do we compare ourselves to other people? In what area are you willing to admit that you covet something another has?
• Read 1 Tim. 6:6-8. Does comparison always lead to coveting? How can we overcome an addiction to comparing ourselves with others? Why is it sinful?
• Are you able to admire something someone else has, without needing to acquire it? Can you give an example?
• Read Eccl. 5:19. Does God desire that we have a good life? Read Matt. 6:32-34. How does God want us to achieve holiness and happiness?
• Read Lk. 12:19-21. Do we know when we will die? Read Jas. 4:13-14. Is this the same principle? Who will get your “stuff” when you die? Do you covet the boxes in your parents’ attic, or storage buildings, or garage? What will you do with them? If you’re a parent with tons of packed boxes, what will your children do with them?

TWO THINGS THAT WILL LAST FOREVER:

• Read Is. 40:8. Why will the Word of God last for all time? How important is it to you?

Do you read it daily? How much of it have you memorized? Where is your Bible now?

• Read Matt. 26:11. Will there always be people? Will you ever know a time when there is no one but yourself left upon earth?

Close:

We all love beauty, don’t we? Whether it’s in the way God made us—let’s face it, He has made zillions of people more beautiful than others of us—or in our home, yard, car or things we own, much of our ‘acquiring’ additional things is to beautify our lives. But do the things own us, or do we own them? Have you, like Paul, learned in ‘whatsoever state [he found himself in], therein to be content’? If you have to put it on a credit card that is not paid off monthly, you possibly should reconsider buying it.

Now might be a good time to examine your life to see what part of it falls short in meeting God’s expectation. Do you wish you had the biggest house on the block? The nicest car? The most gorgeous yard? Why do these things matter? In the end, the most you could gain might be the whole world, but you might also lose your soul in getting it. Please remember, there is always a cost to running away from God.

Life isn’t about happiness with tons of things. Life is about holiness, about pleasing God with our mind, heart, soul, and spirit. It’s about loving others, and not “living” in order to get more resources, it’s about having additional resources in order to enable more “giving.”

By Sandy Day                                                                                                                                                                                                                April 28, 2024