The Rich Fool

A man in the crowd asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide an inheritance with him. Jesus did not take the role of settling the dispute. Instead, he warned the people to be on guard against greed. He taught that a person’s life is not measured by how much they own.

Then Jesus told a parable. A rich man had land that produced an abundant crop. The man began thinking about his problem. He did not have room to store his crops, so he wondered what he should do.

The man decided on a plan. He would pull down his barns and build bigger ones. There he would store all his grain and his goods. He told himself that he had plenty laid up for many years and could take life easily, eating, drinking, and enjoying himself.

But in the parable, God called him a fool. That very night, his life would be required of him. Then what would happen to all the things he had prepared? His stored wealth could not keep him safe or make his life secure.

Jesus ended with the meaning of the parable. This is what it is like for someone who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. His warning answered more than one family argument. It uncovered the danger of building life around possessions.