True Riches: Trusting God Over Material Wealth

 

Summary

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, we encounter a profound teaching from Jesus, often referred to as the Parable of the Rich Fool. This parable serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of covetousness and the folly of placing our trust in material wealth. Jesus tells the story of a wealthy man who, after a bountiful harvest, decides to tear down his barns to build larger ones to store his goods. He congratulates himself, thinking he has secured his future, only to be called a fool by God, who demands his soul that very night. This parable is not just a critique of wealth but a deeper exploration of the human condition and our relationship with God.

The context of this parable is crucial. Jesus had been speaking to his disciples about the challenges they would face in spreading the Gospel, including persecution and even death. Yet, he comforts them with the assurance of God's care and the promise of the Holy Spirit's guidance. In the midst of this solemn discourse, a man interrupts, asking Jesus to mediate a family inheritance dispute. This request reveals the man's preoccupation with earthly matters, missing the eternal truths Jesus was imparting.

The rich man's folly lies in his self-deception. He believes he has planned for every eventuality, yet he has ignored the two most critical realities: God and death. He has not considered his relationship with God, nor has he prepared for the inevitability of death. This oversight is the height of folly, as these are the most certain aspects of human existence. The parable challenges us to reflect on our own lives and priorities. Are we, like the rich fool, placing our trust in temporal things, or are we seeking the true riches that come from a relationship with God?

The parable also highlights the inadequacy of a materialistic view of life. The rich man sees his soul as something to be satisfied with earthly pleasures, yet true fulfillment comes from knowing God and enjoying His presence. The Bible presents a higher view of humanity, created in the image of God, meant for communion with Him. True riches are found in the peace, assurance, and eternal inheritance that God offers through Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The parable of the rich fool warns against the folly of covetousness and the danger of placing our trust in material wealth. True life is not measured by possessions but by our relationship with God. [06:42]

- Self-deception is a grave danger. The rich man believed he had secured his future, yet he ignored the realities of God and death. We must examine our lives to ensure we are not similarly deceived. [09:23]

- True wisdom begins with acknowledging God. The rich man's failure to consider God in his plans reveals a fundamental flaw in his thinking. We must start our reasoning with God to understand life rightly. [16:38]

- Our view of humanity should reflect the biblical perspective. We are not mere creatures of appetite but beings created in God's image, meant for communion with Him. This understanding shapes how we live and what we value. [26:49]

- The greatest riches are those given by God: peace, assurance, and eternal life. These are the true treasures that endure beyond this life and are available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. [33:47]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Luke 12
- [00:50] - The Parable of the Rich Fool
- [02:12] - Context of the Parable
- [03:12] - Jesus' Comfort to His Disciples
- [04:28] - The Interruption and Its Significance
- [06:09] - Jesus' Response to Covetousness
- [07:32] - Understanding the Term "Fool"
- [09:05] - The Folly of Self-Deception
- [11:03] - The Rich Man's Misguided Thinking
- [14:36] - The Importance of Considering God
- [19:19] - The Certainty of Death
- [23:03] - True Provision for the Soul
- [31:28] - Misjudging True Riches
- [40:34] - The Riches God Offers
- [42:57] - Final Reflections and Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Luke 12:13-21: The Parable of the Rich Fool

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#### Observation Questions
1. What prompted Jesus to tell the Parable of the Rich Fool? How did the man's request reveal his priorities? [04:28]
2. In the parable, what actions did the rich man take after his bountiful harvest, and what was his reasoning behind these actions? [01:08]
3. How does Jesus describe the rich man's view of life, and what does this reveal about his understanding of true riches? [06:42]
4. What does God say to the rich man in the parable, and what is the significance of this statement? [15:24]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the rich man's failure to consider God in his plans reflect a common attitude in today's society? [16:38]
2. What does the parable suggest about the relationship between material wealth and spiritual fulfillment? [26:49]
3. How does the concept of self-deception play a role in the rich man's downfall, and what warning does this provide for us? [09:23]
4. In what ways does the parable challenge our understanding of what it means to be truly wise? [13:21]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be placing too much trust in material possessions? How can you shift your focus to seek true riches in your relationship with God? [06:42]
2. Consider a time when you may have been self-deceived about your priorities. What steps can you take to ensure you are not ignoring the realities of God and death in your life? [09:23]
3. How can you begin to incorporate God into your daily decision-making processes, ensuring that your plans align with His will? [16:38]
4. Think about your view of humanity. How does understanding that we are created in God's image change the way you interact with others and value yourself? [26:49]
5. Identify one way you can pursue the true riches that God offers, such as peace, assurance, or eternal life. What practical steps can you take this week to grow in this area? [33:47]
6. How can you cultivate a mindset that values eternal inheritance over temporary gains? What changes might you need to make in your lifestyle or thinking? [41:44]
7. Reflect on the assurance of God's care and the promise of the Holy Spirit's guidance. How can this assurance impact the way you face challenges and uncertainties in your life? [03:57]

Devotional

Day 1: True Life is Measured by Our Relationship with God
The parable of the rich fool serves as a powerful reminder that life is not defined by the abundance of possessions but by our relationship with God. The rich man in the parable believed he had secured his future by amassing wealth, yet he neglected the most important aspect of life: his relationship with God. This oversight led to his downfall, as he was called a fool by God. The parable challenges us to evaluate our own lives and priorities, urging us to seek the true riches that come from knowing God and living in communion with Him. [06:42]

Luke 12:15 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'"

Reflection: In what ways have you been measuring your life by material possessions rather than your relationship with God? How can you begin to shift your focus today?


Day 2: The Danger of Self-Deception
Self-deception is a grave danger that can lead us away from the truth. The rich man in the parable believed he had secured his future, yet he ignored the realities of God and death. This self-deception blinded him to the true purpose of life and led to his ultimate demise. We must examine our lives to ensure we are not similarly deceived, placing our trust in temporal things rather than in God. By acknowledging our vulnerabilities and seeking God's wisdom, we can avoid the pitfalls of self-deception and live a life aligned with His will. [09:23]

Proverbs 14:12 (ESV): "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."

Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you might be deceiving yourself? How can you seek God's truth and wisdom to gain clarity and direction?


Day 3: Wisdom Begins with Acknowledging God
True wisdom begins with acknowledging God in all our plans and decisions. The rich man's failure to consider God in his plans reveals a fundamental flaw in his thinking. He believed he could secure his future through his own efforts, yet he ignored the most important factor: God's sovereignty. By starting our reasoning with God, we can gain a proper understanding of life and make decisions that align with His will. This acknowledgment of God as the source of wisdom leads to a life of purpose and fulfillment. [16:38]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: How often do you include God in your decision-making process? What steps can you take to ensure that you are acknowledging Him in all your plans?


Day 4: Created for Communion with God
Our view of humanity should reflect the biblical perspective that we are created in God's image, meant for communion with Him. The rich man in the parable saw his soul as something to be satisfied with earthly pleasures, yet true fulfillment comes from knowing God and enjoying His presence. This understanding shapes how we live and what we value, leading us to seek the true riches that come from a relationship with God. By embracing our identity as beings created for communion with God, we can live a life of purpose and meaning. [26:49]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV): "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Reflection: How does your understanding of being created in God's image influence your daily life and decisions? What changes can you make to live more fully in communion with Him?


Day 5: The Greatest Riches are Given by God
The greatest riches are those given by God: peace, assurance, and eternal life. These are the true treasures that endure beyond this life and are available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. The rich man in the parable misjudged true riches, placing his trust in material wealth rather than in the eternal inheritance offered by God. By seeking the riches that come from a relationship with God, we can experience true fulfillment and joy that transcends the temporal pleasures of this world. [33:47]

Ephesians 1:18 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

Reflection: What are the "riches" you are currently pursuing in your life? How can you begin to seek the true riches that God offers through a relationship with Jesus Christ?

Quotes



"covetousness for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesses and he spake a parable unto them saying the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully and he thought with himself saying what shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits and he said this will I do I will pull down my bars and build greater and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods and I will say to my soul soul thou H has much Goods laid up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry but God said unto him him thou fool this night thy Soul shall be required of thee then who shall those things be which thou Hast provided so is he that layth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" [00:39:28]

"the character of the discourse it is Solemn it is serious it's concerned with ultimate matters even with the Eternal Destiny of men and women never in a sense had our Lord spoken in a more solemn uh way and Manner and yet this is what we are told the moment as it were our Lord stopped one of the company said unto him Master speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me here was a man you see in the congregation in the crowd listening to our Lord giving this exhortation and comfort to his disciples he's there and he's listening and yet in a sense of course he's not not listening at all he hears words but they carry no significance to him why well his mind is on something else" [00:253:439]

"our Lord realizes that this man by putting his question is betraying his whole view of life and it's such a tragic view of life that our Lord feels it necessary not only to put this man right but to put all the others right the whole question is what is a man's view of life this man's view of life is it consists in the abundance of a man's possessions and that is to him the only thing that matters and our Lord is clearly so moved by the tragedy of men other men holding such a debased view of life that he doesn't even leave it at this word of General exaltation but proceeds to speak this parable of the rich fool" [00:405:4]

"the trouble with this man was that he was deceiving himself and ultimately that is the greatest tragedy it's a very sad thing when a man is deceived by others when a man is deceived by supposed friends or Allies it's a very sad thing when a man is let down by people in whom he reposed trust and confidence but after all the greatest tragedy is when a man is the architect of his own failure and that he does that because of his entirely wrong estimate and understanding of himself there are many such men you he of them in business and in Affairs their overconfidence their lack of understanding they deluded and fooled themselves it's a very terrible thing when a man fools other people but it's much worse when a man fools himself" [00:566:36]

"the tragedy of this men here is a man boasting of his great thinking and yet in his thinking he has left out of consideration the two most vital and important factors what are they well the first you see is the fact of God he never thought about God at all he thought of himself he thought of his competitors he thought of his children he thought of a Thousand and One things but he never thought about God and so our Lord brings it out with this dramatic intensity the man speaks congratulates himself Sly but God said and here he is realizing for the first time that he's never considered God and his relationship to God at all his thinking has been entirely in terms of man and the activities of men and he's never given a thought to his relationship to God" [00:937:44]

"the one fact about which all of us can be absolutely certain this evening is the fact that we are going to die and yet the modern man doesn't think about this or he thinks of many other possibilities he's very concerned about the possibility of a third world war he thinks a lot about that and the possibility of some of these terrible bombs being used he thinks it's right that he should do that in a sense and this is where the Folly becomes so extreme of course he even makes preparation for his own burial he may take out an insurance to cover his own burial he's concerned about it he about his very burial the one thing he never prepares for is his own death he thinks ahead makes provision in all these other ways and congratulates himself on doing so but he never faces the actual fact of his own death" [00:1190:6]

"the greatest men greatest Statesmen greatest generals greatest everything they all have got to Die the Paths of Glory lead but to the grave and yet you see here's a man who's never given it a thought and so many today in this modern world of ours are exactly the same they seem to think of everything else and yet they've never given a moment consideration to this absolute certainty that is there facing them and coming nearer to them every second which they breathe what can you say of such a man except that he's a fool however clever he may be in other respects a man who leaves out of consideration in forming his philosophy and his view of Life the two greatest facts of all is nothing but a fool and a simpleton such is this man in the parable such is the typical average Modern Men today" [00:1315:6]

"this man had made no provision for himself because his view of himself was so debased and So Unworthy and so round that he could not possibly have made provision for himself what do I mean well you notice the language the man uses he betrays himself he turns to himself and he says I will say to my soul so you see this is his view of man he's addressing his inous being the thing that makes aen aen and he says so you see his idea of a man what's a man well a man obviously according to this man's idea a man is just the creature an animal who's in this world to eat and to drink and to indulge his sex much Goods laid up take their KNE eat drink be merry what the world is doing tonight it lives to eat and to drink Sex being married enjoyment happiness the whole world is given to your country is my country is and they think this is marvelous" [00:1423:919]

"man is a creature made in the image and likeness of God God said let us make man in our own image and likeness man is meant to have correspondence with God he's to be the companion of God he's created for communion with God God made him that he might be the Lord of creation his representative on Earth that's man how can a man like this possibly make provision for himself and for his soul his whole conception of men is so debased and unworthy he can't make any provision and so while he congratulates himself on The Marvelous provision he has made he has actually made no provision at all now our Lord makes that abundantly clear in in in the way in which he puts it in the parable but God said unto him thou fool this night thy Soul shall be required of thee then who shall those things be which thou H has provided" [00:1611:88]

"here is a man who knows about certain types of riches but is completely ignorant about the riches that God giveth and that is the tragedy of this men here is an expert on riches who is completely ignorant about the greatest of only true riches the riches which God gives and this my dear friends is the tragedy of many similar person in this world of ours tonight men are bursting about their wealth of knowledge and of UND standing even of riches and of their possessions and a thousand and one other things and they think they have no need of God the ultimate tragedy of such people is all their appalling ignorance of the riches that God offers to his children" [00:1964:0]

"the first thing he gives us is this peace and rest of conscience a knowledge of sins forgiven you know this is beyond price this is beyond competition you can go through the libraries of the world at their best and you'll never find peace of conscience there they can give you a lot of information but they can't give you that peace which can enable you to put your pillar your head on your pillow tonight and sleep with confidence and Assurance knowing that should you die during the night all is well because you have been reconciled to God peace of conscience knowledge of sins forgiven" [00:2039:76]

"you can go through the the libraries of all the universe and you won't find it there's only one place where you'll ever find it and that is as you look at him hanging there on a cross between two thieves on calvary's Hill the Son of God the savior of your soul that's a part of the riches the world can't give it you but the gospel gives it you for nothing by grace are he Saed through faith that not of yourselves it is the gift of God without money without price without your works without anything you simply come in your utter helplessness and need you repent and cast yourself upon him that's a part of it but it doesn't stop there having given you that it goes on to give you these other glorious things that are mentioned in the scriptures it'll give you full Assurance of that it'll then give you the realization that you've got a new life within you a new mind a new heart you have a new beginning you are born again born of the spirit you have the mind of Christ" [00:2301:68]

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Transcript
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