The Parable about wrong Priorities

Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.

—Luke 12:15

A stern Warning

In the parable of a man who increased his productivity and wealth yet was 'not rich toward God,' he was called a 'fool' (Luke 12:16-21). This is a stern warning with strong language. The context of the parable is Jesus' warning against 'every form of greed' and a false sense of identity and security in abudance of money (v 15). It is not a parable against wealth, productivity or even captialism; it is a parable about wrong priorities related to wealth and its increase. It is an illustration of how wrong priorities can cost us everything although we possessed everything. Jesus advocated for generosity and trusting God for His provision as we first seek His kingdom (vv 22-33), 'for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also' (v 34). Jesus was teaching about right priorities in view of eternity.

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Perhaps the title 'Rich Fool' sounds harsh. After all, we should not call anyone fool (Matthew 5:22). So why did God, in the parable, call that rich man 'You fool!'? Sounds like a contradiction, even an insult. But it isn't. It is a use of strong language for dramatic effect: the issue is very serious!

Before we look at the parable in context and why Jesus told it to the crowd, let us read the parable (Luke 12:16-20). A rich man had productive land (v 16). This is a blessing from God, no doubt. In Scripture, drought and famine are related to God's judgment (e.g., 1 Kings 18). In the parable, the rich man was 'reasoning to himself' how to expand his storage houses in order to store all his produce from the productive land (Luke 12:17-18). Having done so, he said to his soul that he is secure for a long time and can enjoy his 'many goods' for 'many years': 'take your ease, eat, drink and be merry' (v 19). Note that his self-talk, which lead him to his conclusions and actions, excluded God and others entirely.

Again, having an abundance is not the issue; it is what he made with it, evident in the words he spoke to himself. There not one word about God, gratitude or using his abundance to help others and make the world a better place. The man was totally self-centred. Making smart investments that secure a stable future are positive and responsible ways to use money, but doing so apart from God in a selfish way are not. Jesus' conclusions of both the parable (v 20) and in plain words in view of the parable (v 21) makes this clear:

But God said to him, 'You fool!' This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?' So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

—Luke 12:20-21

The foolish thing here is the wrong priorities. He had accumulated all this wealth, yet would die now and it would be left to others. The 'treasure for himself' that he stored up was for himself to enjoy (we are not talking about responsible investments in land and education for one's children—these are important matters in life). The man thought of his own comfort on earth, yet gave no thought to God and the afterlife. Having riches on earth yet poverty in heaven are foolish priorities in view of eternity.

The Parable in Context

As we pointed out above, the parable comes as a response and illustration to a warning about greed and a false identity in abundance of money (Luke 12:15). Even if one has an abudance, one's life should not consist of it. In other words, don't make money your identity. This is, of course, easier said than done. People who become rich tend to change in a negative way, especially when they forget where they come from and forget those left behind in poverty. On the other hand, there are those who prosper and help others prosper. They lift the community they came from. That is good. The man in the parable was selfish and self-centred. That is not good. Greed brings the worst out of people. It enhances the corruption in us. It is a poison that looks attractive but kills. The only antidote to greed is generosity. Paul defined greed as the 'love of money,' which is 'the root of all evil' (1 Timothy 6:10). Note, not money, but the love of money is the root cause of all kinds of evils that brings destruction. Covetousness is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5). Money becomes 'god'; that idol is called 'mammon,' and we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24; see Q4). The Bible doesn't condemn wealth and abundance; it warns of the dangerous of greed and covetousness and all its destructive consequences. The problem is wrong priorities and a false identity in money. The issue is not whether you have money; the issue is whether money has you!

Remember, God had promised to bless His people, including material blessings on earth. Moses reminded the Israelites that it was God who gave them 'power to make wealth' (Deuteronomy 8:17). This is a verse often taken out of context. The statement is not the central aspect of what Moses was saying. He warned the people that they should not forget God and think their own power has achieved their prosperity. It was God and He should be honoured. The people are to honour God and keep His covenant. God was confirming His covenant by all His blessings, but the people are not to forget Him, but know that He is the Source of all blessing! We are to honour God with all His good blessings (Proverbs 3:9-10).

The man in the parable was a 'fool' because he had wrong priorities. This warning in the parable came as someone in the crowd told Jesus to tell his brother to divide the family inheritance with him (Luke 12:13). Jesus had a strong reaction: 'Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitartor over you?' (v 14) That is not why Jesus came. Of course, an inheritance should be divided properly and justly, yet Jesus realised that greed was the issue, hence His warning (v 15). Sadly, families break apart over money when greed is at work, instead of sharing the blessings of God fairly. When people have a wrong security and false identity in money, it becomes the master—from God's perspective, an enslaving master—and brings the worst out of people. People with money often think they are worth more than others. The enter a competition with strangers based on jealously. They seek to impress people they don't like with money they may not even have. 'Keeping up with the Jones' is a wicked trap with often bad consequences. Some people may become rich but lose all good friends—and win fake ones, those who seek their company for their money. This foolish pride of life and lust of the flesh will fade away (1 John 2:15-16). We are to seek the will of God (v 17). Some people sell their soul for money or fame or other such futile things—what good is that?

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

—Matthew 16:26

The man in the parable serves as a negative example and a warning of the deception that can come with wrong priorities regarding money, especially in view of eternity. In the Parable of the Sower (P1), the Word of God gets chocked by, among other things, the 'deceitfulness of riches' (Mark 4:19). People cannot bring forth good fruit in polluted soil; and wrong priorities is pollution in our hearts. We are to be free from the love of money (Luke 12:15; cf., Hebrews 13:5). Thinking that our lives consist of abundance of possessions is a false and deceptive identity. The problem with the rich fool was that he was 'not rich towards God' (Luke 12:21). His treasure was in the wrong place; hence his heart was not in the right place. It is not wrong to be responsibly rich; it is wrong to be greedy and selfish. When wealth increases, we are not to set our hearts on it (Psalm 62:10). The rich should not trust in the 'uncertainty of riches' but in God; they are to do good with their abundance and be generous and thus have treasures in heaven (1 Timothy 6:17-19), where rust and moth cannot destroy it (Matthew 6:19). We are to store up 'an unfailing treasure' through our generosity (Luke 12:33). In His generosity, God made us partakers of His kingdom (v 32); we are to be generous with what He has blessed us with (v 33). And when you give, don't give in order to store up treasures in heaven from selfish motives; give from the generosity of your heart with pure motives. With such God is pleased. When you give with your left hand, don't take a selfie for Instagram with your right hand...

Conclusion

The parable of the rich fool warns us about wrong priorities regarding money in view of eternity. We are not to store up treasures on earth in a selfish manner without any regard for God and others. We are to store up treasures in heaven by seeking His kingdom and show the generosity He as shown us. Money and wealth are not evil; greed and covetousness are. Money has great power; it can be used for good purposes, but also for evil causes. It all depends on the one holding it. The problem is not for you to have money; the problem is when money has you. Responsible investments and faithful financial administration are good things; selfish accumulation of wealth and selfish spending are not. God's provision is God's blessing which we are to handle faithfully and honestly, without trusting in money or developing a false identity in money.

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