Parable of the Rich Fool

Luke 12:13-31, Sproul - 3

www.trustworthyword.com/rich-fool

Rightnow Media: The Parables of Jesus by R.C. Sproul https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/608

The Parables and Money

  • “Money is a common them of Jesus’ parables. Roughly a third of the forty or so parables Jesus told have something to do with earthly riches, treasure, coins, or currency of some kind” - MacArthur, 141

  • “The story of the rich man and Lazarus as well as the story of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21 illustrate how riches can be an impediment to entering the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:23-24)” — MacArthur, 142

  • “the parable of the talents the parable of the minas (Luke 19:12-27), and the parable of the vinedressers (Luke 20:9-16)… all remind us that we are merely stewards of whatever earthly resources the Lord entrusts to our care” — MacArthur, 142

  • “The hidden treasure and the pearl of great price (Matt. 13:44-46) are not about seeking or hoarding earthly wealth… they illustrate the infinite value of the heavenly kingdom” — MacArthur, 142

2 Godly Goals of Money - Generous Stewardship

  1. Provision for Current and Future Needs

    • 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”

    • Acts 20:34 “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.”

    • Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children”

  1. Passing On to God & Others

    • Acts 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

    • 2 Corinthians 9:11 “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

3 Ungodly Goals in Pursuing Money - Selfish Covetousness

Protection from Future Concerns without Trust in God

  • Luke 12:19 "And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

  • Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread”

  • Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Pleasure in this World

  • Luke 15:13 “Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.”

Prideful Comparison with Others

  • 1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Anxiety, Worry, Fear, Priorities, Trust, Perspective - Luke 12

Worldly Priorities vs. Godly Priorities

  • Luke 12:21 “So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (ESV)

  • Hebrews 11:26 "He [Moses] considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.”

Look at the Fears Across Luke 11 & 12

Fear of Man - Pharisees & Lawyers

  • Jesus’ rebukes Luke 11:40 “You fools!”, Luke 11:42 “But woe to you Pharisees!”, Luke 11:46 “Woe to you lawyers also!”

Fear of Man - Seen in Hypocrisy -  misrepresenting who you are, fear of truth of the consequences, desire of benefit from lie

  • Luke 12:1 “when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

Fear of Man - Suffering

  • Luke 12:4–7 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. [5] But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! [6] Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. [7] Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Fear of Speaking

  • Luke 12:11–12 “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, [12] for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Fear of Financial Need - Danger of Covetousness

  • Luke 12:13 “Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

  • Luke 12:15 “And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”

WARNING: What are your thoughts in regards to money?

  • When blessed? Luke 12:17 “he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’”

    • Where is gratitude? Where is God? Who is he trusting?

  • About the future? Luke 12:19 “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’

    • Priorities are seen in how money is spent and what goals are set.

5 Solutions to Fear

"Half our fears arise from neglect of the Bible." Charles H. Spurgeon

Warnings of God - Listen

  • Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

  • Luke 12:32–34 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. [33] Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. [34] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Fear of God - Faith in Our Great God!

  • Luke 11:32 "something greater than Jonah is here.”

  • Luke 12:28–31 “But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! [29] And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. [30] For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. [31] Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”

Right Prioritization of God

  • Matthew 6:33–34 “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”

  • Luke 12:40 “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

  • Luke 12:20–21 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Wisdom from God

  • Luke 12:22–25 “And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. [23] For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. [24] 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! [25] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?”

Obedience to God

  • Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

  • Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Discussion Questions:

  • Why can inheritances so troublesome in families after a death?

  • How would you define “covetousness”?

  • How do protect ourselves from covetousness?

  • Why is money such a touchy issues? How do you think families are doing with money today?

  • How would you describe worry? How would you define fear?

  • Why do many people worry about money?

  • What other sorts of issues do people worry about?

  • How is worry connected to fear? How is worry related to anxiety?

  • How are worry, fear, and anxiety connected to depression?

  • What sorts of ways can we fall into the temptation of covetousness? How can we better protect ourselves?

  • What sorts of ways can we fall in to the temptation of worry, anxiety, fear and depression? How can we better protect ourselves?

Helpful Resources:

  • Rightnow Media: The Parables of Jesus by R.C. Sproul

  • What Do Jesus’ Parables Mean? By R.C. Sproul

  • Tell Me the Stories of Jesus: The Explosive Power of Jesus’ Parables by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

  • Parables: The Mysteries of God’s Kingdom Revealed through the Stories Jesus Told by John MacArthur