Parables
“The Rich Fool”
Luke 12:13-21
This is a story about “voices”.
They are familiar voices – as inconvenient as that is at times.
The first voice is the one in verse 13.
The voice that gives occasion for Jesus to tell this story before us today.
“Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me”.
It sounds like a reasonable voice.
Well – I think it is.
To me it sounds like the voice of reason. Of justice and fairness.
I think it sounds like a good voice with a good case.
Scripture says the voice was “someone in the crowd”. This person speaks for most of us if not all of us.
“Give me what is rightfully mine. Give me what I have been counting on.”
Jesus hears this voice in a different way.
I hear the voice of “justice and fairplay”.
Jesus hears the voice of “greed and self-gratification”.
He warns this person to be on guard against all kinds of greed; for a person’s life does not consist in the abundance of their possessions.
And He places this person in a story.
Places us in a story.
And in this story we hear another voice. The voice of the rich man.
He has a lot to say.
To himself.
You’ve heard the story – he enjoys a particularly good crop and his current barns aren’t big enough.
So he plans to expand and secure his future.
And he talks to himself.
At one level – this voice sounds reasonable enough. He appears to make good sense and have a good case.
But when you “listen” you begin to realise that he really does talk to himself!!
And that is the point!
In just a few verses “I/my/you (soul)” appears 12x.
Oh dear!
Now at another level it seems excessive – and it is.
But is this a fair response to the person who had asked Jesus to tell his brother to share the inheritance with him?
This man in the story seems over the top. His self-focus seems compulsive.
Remember - Jesus is describing greed here.
Does the “voice” in the parable sound familiar?
Does his obsession about the future; early retirement; a life of ease and indulgence sound at all familiar?
Does it sound at all like you?
Does his plans and wealth begin to touch a longing in your own heart and life?
Do you find yourself wishing and hoping for that kind of opportunity?
Does he sound familiar?
Is this you? Either in reality or fantasy?
In October 1984, I came over the Bombay hills for the first time to begin a new life and job in a town I had never been to before; Papakura.
I had applied for the job while in Wellington and had no idea where it was except that it was somewhere in Auckland.
I had to look it up on a map.
I was to start work as an Employment Officer (Dept of Labour) in the office in O’Shannessey St.
At the time, this new office was considered the model for NZ.
I remember very clearly my first view as the car I was in drove over the top of the Bombay’s and came down the hill towards Ramarama.
That first view of the fields of Runciman, Ramarama and Drury – and the power pylons.
It was the first and enduring image of my new home.
To this day, when I come down the Bombay Hills and take in that view, my mind goes back to that day as a 19 year old who had been a Christian for about 6 months.
And my mind goes back to that day and I wonder what I would have thought if someone in that moment had said to me “Geoff, in 25 years time, you will still be here and these are the contours of your life…”
And I run through my mind the different people in my life; what I do for a vocation; and yes – the possessions I own.
And without fail – I think to myself that if someone had described my life in that way 25 years ago – I would have not believed them.
In that moment – I marvel at the blessings of God. And I thank Him.
And yet also there is a “voice” inside.
I think it is somewhat proud; and I think it is garnished with some greed.
My celebration of how my life is now in comparison to that 19 year old who had very little in terms of possessions, family and friends in 1984 teeters on the edge of Luke 12.
In preparing this sermon – I wonder if I hear myself in this story.
In that moment on the Bombay Hill.
There is another voice in the parable.
The voice of God.
The rich man speaks to himself – then God speaks to him.
“You fool!”
The man is planning for years – but God is acting “tonight”.
The man’s speech to himself has no reference to God. He even fails to see that the “ground” produced the good crop – not him.
“Fool!” is a description of immorality not stupidity (Psa 14:1).
His speech is godless. His plans are godless. His life is godless.
There is no obvious reference or acknowledgement to God and His sovereignty.
And God asks a haunting question:
“This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (v 20).
The man’s voice of greed and self-service drowned out the voice of God.
Dulled his ears.
God have mercy on us!
Which voice is being listened to in my life?
To whom am I giving credit for the goodness and success in my life?
This story was played out in real life once. But it stopped just short of death.
[Read Daniel 4:29-37]
Pastors and ministers can commit the sin of Nebuchadnezzar.
“Look at all that my leadership, preaching and ministry have resulted in!”
Parents can commit the sin.
“Consider the magnificence and wonder of my children’s achievements!”
Business people can commit the sin.
And intellectuals.
And intercessors.
Anyone who begins to believe the lie that the good and success which they enjoy is somehow due to their power.
It is the voice of greed and pride.
And Jesus says the Voice declares “You fool!”
Paul the Apostle used to speak in this way once.
Once.
Before he met Christ.
Before he heard Christ say “You fool!”
"I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:4-8)
You see – there is another voice at work in all of this.
A voice which encourages your voice which celebrates your good crop and encourages you in your plans to build bigger barns so that you may secure your future and be at ease.
A voice which encourages “you” to have a say in your destiny. And encourages you to keep talking to yourself and all the while you slowly but surely stop hearing the voice of God.
Slowly but surely you stop planning for a future in God.
You stop hearing the warning from the voice of God; stop hearing the warning here in this parable.
This voice is not mentioned in as many word s here. But it’s there.
In spirit.
In intent.
To hear this voice; to expose it and see how it promotes greed and pride we need to go back earlier in the Gospel of Luke.
[Read Luke 4:1-13]
Here is the voice saying “Take life easy. Eat, drink and be merry.”
It is satanic. Demonic.
It lies to you and dulls you to the voice of God Who can say at any moment “You life is demanded of you! What legacy have you left!”
Whose voice has your attention this morning?
Yours?
Satan’s?
God’s?
Presented By: Rev. Geoff New