Parable of the Rich Fool – The Trouble with Treasure
What is most important in your life? Where do you invest the most time, energy, and money?
Jesus teaches that your treasure is where your heart is (Matt. 6:19-21). So, what do you treasure the most? Where is your heart?
In Luke 12, someone comes to Jesus with his heart set on money and land. He says, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (Luke 12:13). Jesus responds by showing that His purpose as well as man’s focus was not based in earthly things. Jesus says (v.15), “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Life is not about what money you make. It’s not about your land. It’s the old saying “You can’t take it with you.”
Jesus then tells a parable of a rich man (Luke 12:16-21) who had well-producing land, and built up larger barns to store his plentiful goods. After doing so, he said to his soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” God responds (v. 20-21), “‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Temporary goods were not what his soul needed. Pleasures of earth are not what the soul needs. The soul, along with the heart, must be set on and nourished by heavenly things. One’s life consists of more than the abundance of one’s possessions.
I would argue that Satan’s deadliest tool is distraction, letting us think that important things are the most important thing. Again I ask, “What is most important in your life?” Is it to have success in your hobby or career? To have your dream car or home? To have a large family? Own a large piece of land? None of these are bad goals, just as having ample goods and large barns is not inherently bad. Yet none of these provide our souls with what they truly need. One’s life does not consist of the abundance of one’s possessions, nor does it consist of the abundance of one’s hobbies, 401k, achievements, followers and likes on social media, fishing, hunting trophies, accomplishments, or goals. Goals are wonderful. Accomplishments? Great! But at what cost? If accomplishing a goal requires sacrifice of spiritual focus, it is not worth it. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:35). What does it profit a man to gain anything (401k, success, etc.), and lose his soul? Nothing is of greater value than one’s soul (Mark 8:37).
So, let your treasure be in heaven. Look at Matthew 6:19-21 & Luke 12:33, and replace the word “treasure” with “heart.” “Do not lay up for yourselves your heart on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves your heart in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a heart in the heavens that does not fail…”
Invest your heart and your soul in heaven. Life does not consist of the abundance of one’s possessions. Life is about being rich towards God and the things of Heaven.
Jared McLeod
