The Parable of the Rich Fool is found in Luke 12:13-21. In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a rich man who had such an abundant harvest that he didn’t have enough room to store it all. Rather than using his wealth to help others, the rich man decided to tear down his barns and build even bigger ones to hoard all of his grain and goods for himself. But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20).
This parable teaches us several important lessons:
Wealth is not guaranteed
The rich man assumed his wealth was secure and that he could relax and enjoy his fortune. But life is fleeting, and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. As Psalm 39:5 says, “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.” Material possessions give an illusion of security, but only God can truly secure our lives.
God calls greed and self-indulgence sinful
The rich man’s focus was on himself – hoarding more than he needed, consuming it on his own pleasures. But God calls this lifestyle sinful. As 1 Timothy 6:9 warns, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” When we indulge in greed, we turn our focus away from God and others’ needs to pursuing more of what benefits us.
We cannot serve both God and money
Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13). The rich fool loved and trusted in his wealth more than God. But when we serve money, we become enslaved to pursuing riches that can disappear instantly. God alone offers lasting security.
True life is not found in possessions
The rich fool thought more wealth would give him security and fulfillment. But Jesus taught that “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). No amount of money can give our lives meaning and purpose. True joy and peace come from having a relationship with God.
We cannot take earthly wealth with us
All the grain the rich man stored up was left behind when he died. As Job 1:21 observes, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.” We cannot take any earthly possessions with us past this life. So there is no eternal value in hoarding temporal wealth just for ourselves.
We should prioritize being rich toward God
Jesus concluded the parable by saying, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). Our focus should not be accumulating more wealth, but cultivating spiritual riches like righteousness, wisdom and a relationship with God. These eternal treasures will not fade away or become useless to us.
We have a responsibility to share with those in need
Rather than tearing down his barns to store even more wealth for himself, the rich man could have used his surplus to help the poor and aid those in need. As 1 John 3:17 shares, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?”
Tomorrow is promised to no one
The rich fool presumed he had many years left to relax and enjoy his wealth. But he was not guaranteed even one more night on earth. James 4:13-14 cautions, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” We must be wise stewards of all God gives us each day.
Vanity of human desires apart from God
The rich man’s selfish ambitions were turned to nothing the moment his life was demanded from him. As King Solomon wrote, when a person’s work “is from the Lord’s hand, he will let him enjoy it” (Ecclesiastes 2:24). But storing up treasure only for oneself, apart from what God desires, is vanity and grasping after wind. All human toil is meaningless if not carried out in relationship with God.
Do not worry about your life
Jesus taught not to worry about food, clothing and provisions for ourselves, but to “seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well” (Luke 12:31). When we follow God’s priorities and see life as more than material gain, He promises to provide what we need.
Be on your guard against all kinds of greed
After finishing the parable, Jesus warned people to be on guard against every kind of greed. It’s easy to justify wanting just a little more. But all greed stems from believing things and money outside of God will provide security. We must vigilantly guard our hearts against subtle greedy desires.
Rich toward God, not riches
The parable’s conclusion contrasts being “rich toward God” versus being rich in earthly wealth for oneself. Richness toward God is cultivating an intimate relationship with Him through prayer, worship and seeking to glorify Him. It’s being spiritually wealthy in righteousness, wisdom and godly character that bring blessing.
Trust in the Lord rather than riches
The rich fool trusted in his abundant crops to secure his future. But Psalm 20:7 instructs, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” All the wealth in the world cannot extend our lives even an hour. Our trust and dependence should be on God alone.
Avoiding love of money
Paul wrote, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Loving wealth leads to greed, envy, strife and wandering from faith. The rich fool valued his possessions more than God or others. We must ask God to keep our hearts from idolizing money or what it can buy.
Using wealth for eternal gains
Rather than hoarding extra wealth for himself, the rich fool could have used it to bless others and make eternal investments in God’s kingdom. As Jesus said, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9). Our resources should be shared generously and used for eternal gains.
Pursuing contentment over riches
The rich fool was discontent even with overflowing barns, so he sought to store even more wealth. But Paul wrote, “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6). True contentment comes from relationship with God, not endlessly pursuing more money and possessions that leave us empty.
Trusting God as provider
The rich fool’s bigger barns were attempts to secure his own provisions. But God promises that He is our provider: “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). We can rest in knowing God will care for us when we seek Him first.
Laying up treasures in heaven
Jesus commands His followers not to store up treasures for ourselves on earth, but to lay up “treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20). We invest in eternity by using resources to love others and advance God’s kingdom.
In summary, the Parable of the Rich Fool warns us against greed, self-indulgence and trusting in earthly wealth for security. True meaning and purpose will only be found in cultivating an intimate relationship with God and pursuing eternal riches that come from living according to His wisdom and priorities. When our lives our anchored in Him, we can find contentment and freedom from slavery to pursuing more temporal wealth just for ourselves.
