Preparation for the Coming Kingdom: Security and Responsibility (Luke 12:13-21)

"The Parable of the Rich Fool" Rembrandt

After warning His followers about the dangers of seeking to please people rather than God, Jesus moves on to warn them about the dangers of materialism. Some people ask Jesus to resolve a family dispute over money. Instead, Jesus uses the opportunity to talk about the dangers of looking to money for security and refuge from life’s problems.

He tells the story of a man who has a huge windfall. It is important to see here that the blessing is just that, he does not do anything untoward or wrong to receive his riches. However, once he receives this huge blessing, he sees it as an opportunity to secure himself a future free of worry and work. He will store up his huge windfall and lead a life of ease. He has no concern for how he can bless others, and more importantly, he sees his riches as a way to let go of all responsibility and opportunity to serve with his life and work.

Ironically, Jesus’s story reveals that the man’s life ends before he can enjoy any of the security and carefree days he anticipated. No one knows what the future holds. He was a fool.

The point of Jesus’s story for His disciples is to remember that we are not in control; God is. When we are blessed, we should thank God and be a blessing to others. When we face hard times, we need to look to God and not financial security. Being rich is not wrong. However, life lived in the context of riches is a minefield of temptation!