Parable of the Rich Fool

Finish the saying..

• A stitch in time

Finish the saying..

• A stitch in time• Saves Nine

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• He who pays the piper

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• He who pays the piper• Calls the tune

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• Many hands

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• Many hands• Make light work

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• You can drag a horse to water

Finish the saying..

• You can drag a horse to water• But a pencil must be lead

Finish the saying..

• You can lead a horse to water• But you can’t make it drink

Finish the saying..

• Where there’s a will

Finish the saying..

• Where there’s a will• There’s a way

Finish the saying..

• Where there’s a will• There’s a RELATIVE

Luke 12

• 13 Someone in the crowd said to him,• ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the

inheritance with me.’

Luke 12

• 14 Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’

• 15 Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! • Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life

does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’

Luke 12

• 16 And he told them this parable: • ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an

abundant harvest. • 17 He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I

have no place to store my crops.”

Luke 12

• 18 ‘Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.

• 19 And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’”

Luke 12

• 20 ‘But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”

Luke 12

• 21 ‘This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves, but is not rich towards God.’

• Inherited Riches

Luke 10

• The parable of the good Samaritan• 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood

up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

Inheritance

• Very important concept in Old Testament• Everything belonged to the Family• No wills• No decisions about who would/would not

inherit • All sons received a portion • But the eldest got a double portion

Background

• “What can I do to inherit eternal life?”• Odd question• You can’t do anything to inherit • (short of marrying into a family..)• Or possibly killing your father….

Background

• But Jesus gives an answer after asking/answering a question

• “ Who is my neighbour?”• “Surely not the Samaritans….. • They can never be in my family….”• Jesus hints that a family change is possible and

New Testament goes on to develop it

Inheritance

• Needs to have • a death• and Beneficiaries

Inheritance

• Needs to have • a death• Beneficiaries• Jesus has died • and we as His Family get the benefits !

We inherit..

We inherit..

• A kingdom!

We inherit..

• A kingdom!• James 2:5• 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: has not

God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

We inherit..

• A kingdom!• James 2:5• 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: has not

God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

We inherit..

• Something that will last for ever

We inherit..

• Something that will last for ever• Hebrews 9:15• 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a

new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins

We inherit..

• Something that will last for ever (2)

We inherit..

• Something that will last for ever (2)• 1 Peter 1:4• 4 … into an inheritance that can never perish,

spoil or fade. • This inheritance is kept in heaven for you

We inherit..

• A Guarantee

We inherit..

• A Guarantee• Ephesians 1:14• 14 The Holy Spirit….. who is a deposit

guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.

We are heirs

We are heirs

• Titus 3:7• 7 …so that, having been justified by his grace,

we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

We inherit..

• A Kingdom• That is guaranteed• That will last• Eternal• Kept in heaven• As Heirs• All because we have become part of God’s

family

We inherit..

• All because we have become part of God’s family

• Because Jesus died to make it possible• As a free gift• By Faith• And Grace

Back to the parable..

Luke 12

• 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’

Luke 12

• 14 Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’

• 15 Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;

• life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’

Luke 12

• 21 ‘This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves

• but is not rich towards God.’

Matt 6

• 19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Matt 6

• 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

• 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Point of the Passage

• Greed • Wanting More

Context

• Luke 12 • V1 Meanwhile, the crowds grew until

thousands were milling about and stepping on each other.

• Modern Day picture • “It doesn’t matter who I climb over on my way

to the top”

Context

• Luke 12 • V1 Meanwhile, the crowds grew until

thousands were milling about and stepping on each other.

• Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy.

Point of the Passage

• Greed • Wanting More 1• “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with

me.’• The man knew what he was going to get, but

wanted more

Point of the Passage

• Greed • Wanting More 2• ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an

abundant harvest. • 17 He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I

have no place to store my crops.”

Key word

• 15 Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! • Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; • life does not consist in an abundance of

possessions.’

Key word

• 15 Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’

• Word for abundance comes from overflow ie more than enough

Key concept

• Stewardship

• We do not own anything• We are only looking after it for some time

Luke 12

• 16 And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.

• 17 He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.”

Luke 12

• 18 ‘Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.

• 19 And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’”

Luke 12

• 20 ‘But God said to him,• “You fool!”

• Fool, is a much stronger word than we associate it today

How much did he leave..?

You can’t take it with you

• Everything will belong to someone else eventually

Luke 12

• 20 ‘But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”

• 21 ‘This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich towards God.’

Our life is only on loan

• It belongs to God and • He can ask for it back• With No Notice !!

• Planning for life before death • is prudent

• Planning for life before death • is prudent• Not planning • is silly

• Planning for life before death • is prudent• Not planning • is silly• Not planning for Life after death

• is disastrous

Luke 12 Living Bible

• 21 “Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven.”

• “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy.

• A little yeast alters all the loaf

• The attitude of greed only needs a little bit to spread and affect all our life

What’s the worst that could happen?

• Most people say• “You could get killed..”

What’s the worst that could happen?

• Luke 12• 4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who

want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that.

What’s the worst that could happen?

• Luke 12• 4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who

want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

• 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

• 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.

• And how much more valuable you are than birds!

• 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?

• 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

• 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

• 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.

• 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Life after Death?

Life after Death?

• Is real• Jesus came back from the dead to prove it!

Summary• Watch out for Greed• God wants to give us everything anyway as

His family members• We can be heirs by faith and grace• Everyone is a fool who gets rich on earth, but

not in heaven.• Everything, including our life is only

on loan to us • Seek God's Kingdom first

Finish the saying..

• There’s no fool

Finish the saying..

• There’s no fool • Like an old fool

Jesus is saying..

• There’s no fool

• Like a rich fool

Finish the saying..

• There’s no fool• Like a rich fool

•Where is your treasure ?