The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) - A handout

Luke 12:13-21 (p1045) – The Parable of the Rich Fool

A parable =

(1) A good thing: blessed with success (v16)

How should we respond to success?

(a) Gratitude to God

(b) Generosity to others

(2) A questionable thing: “I will build bigger barns” (v18)

Reasonable provision for self and others but…

(3) A bad thing: hording, selfishness and laziness (v19)

(4) A bad thing for the rich fool: God will judge him (v20)

He makes 2 great mistakes:

(a) He forgets about God

Notice the frequency of “I / my” etc. on the lips of the rich fool

(b) He forgets about death and the judgement to come

(5) A good thing: God will judge the world with justice

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed

A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions (v15)”

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself

but is not rich towards God (v21)”

V22: Therefore… - read on for how Jesus applies this parable!