Q1. Greed and the Rich Fool

[DebLam3teach]

Jesus comdemned the rich fool for relying on his money instead of God for his security.  His store of riches instead of trust in God was where is hope was anchored. God wants us to save our money and goods using prudence for future needs, but not for greediness. Do we trust God more than the amount in our bank account?  If not , then the love of money has grown into idolatry.  Key verse is in 12:21:  "So is the man who lays up treasure for HIMSELF, and is not rich toward God." Self is on the throne instead of God when material wealth becomes our idol.

 

The context of the Rich Fool parable was when a man came to Jesus to ask Him to oversee the division of a family inheritance wtih his brother.  Jesus said the parable and the following verses to put monetary issues in the correct perspective. God's Kingdom and His provision should be our preoccupation, not monetary gain.  The parable ties in with the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus said to not store up treasures on earth, but in heaven.  Money can become a terrible taskmaster when we give it too much importance in our lives, crowding Christ's Lordship out of our lives.

[Eager Bver]

Q1. (Luke 12:15-21) Read the Parable of the Rich Fool. What did Jesus condemn him for? Storing his harvest? What is the key verse in this passage? What is the context of this parable? How does this relate to the Sermon on the Mount? 

 

Not preparing for eternity, not storing up for himself spiritually.  His life expired that night and he was not prepared.  It was alright to store, but he ignored his soul.  Verse 15 is the key verse warning us about greed.  We are to be more heavenly minded focusing on God.

[JoanG]

Jesus condemns the man because of his greed for worldly riches. The man has plenty of food already stored for himself but he goes ahead and plans on building bigger storage areas for his worldly things. However, the man never once seems to care about his heavenly riches. He seems to ignore the fact that he can share his over abundance with those less fortunate. he does not rejoice in his good fortune by thanking God and praising God. he wants to lock away all that he was given for himself away from those that could be helped by it.

 

I feel that verse 20 is the key to the passage. It stresses that God is still in charge of everything. We can try and store up worldly wealth but only God can provide for us all that we need.

 

Jesus is trying to tell us to look to the future and to look to God as our provider.

[Old Jerry]

Jesus condemn him because he was rich and he didn’t want to share it. He had his heart set on the goods that he had and didn’t want to depart from them.

The key verse in passage is 21 which tells him that this is the way it will be for those who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. The context of this parable is that we need to be rich toward God.

[Karen11]

On 12/19/2007 at 10:42 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q1. (Luke 12:15-21) Read the Parable of the Rich Fool. What did Jesus condemn him for? Storing his harvest? What is the key verse in this passage? What is the context of this parable? How does this relate to the Sermon on the Mount?

I do not believe he was condemning him for storing of his harvest but of the fact that the man did not humble himself of all that he had.

You work, you have plenty now go reward yourself by eating, drinking and sit back.

That there is no Thankfulness to God.

That we should store heavenly treasures not earthly.

[Irmela]

1.1 What did Jesus codemn him for? Soring his harvest?

No, it was not for storing his harvest but for coveteousness or greed here on earth and not preparing himself for eternity.

1.2 What is the key verse in this passage?

v15 ... Guard yourselves and keep free from all coveteousness - the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more; for a man's life does not consist of and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance, or that which is over and above his needs.

1.3 What is the context of this parable?

This parable was shared/spoken by Jesus after a man in the crowd had asked him to order his brother to give him his share of the inheritance.  Jesus said that He was not appointed as the judge or umpire over them and then He related the parable which so clearly warned against greed, against love of money and the love of independence from God, which seemed to follow that.

1.4 How does this relate to the sermon on the mount?

In Mt 6:19&20 we are envouraged not to gather treasure on earth but rather store up treasure in heaven. In the parable the man wanted to store up his wealth. So his heart was centered on this. He did not even give his eternal destiny a thought.

[Lisa Wolf]

Q1. (Luke 12:15-21) Read the Parable of the Rich Fool. What did Jesus condemn him for? Storing his harvest? What is the key verse in this passage? What is the context of this parable? How does this relate to the Sermon on the Mount? 

Jesus gave the Rich Fool--and us--a challenge to be rich toward God. Jesus also implored us to, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)  The key verse in the passage is verse 21 that ends reminding us to be rich toward God.  The parable's context is a conversation Jesus had with someone asking Him to be the judge between himself and his brother regarding an inheritance.  It relates to the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:25, “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court," and in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Jesus is most concerned about our hearts; about who we have on the throne of our lives. Is God FIRST?