Rich Fool

It is not a sin to be rich. Most of us in this country are very rich in terms of the entire world. What is important is what we do with our riches. Do we hoard them or spend them on ourselves and loved ones or do we share the blessings that God gives us? I don’t believe there is anything wrong with spending some of our riches on ourselves, but as Jesus said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. We need to keep things in perspective. We complain about gas prices and slow internet while others do not know where their next meal comes from or whether they will be alive tomorrow. God always looks at our heart. He delights in our compassion and generosity and frowns on greediness and covetousness. This is what Jesus is talking about in His parable of the rich fool.

Luke 12:13-21

Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ‘ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

There is so much in life more important than the things you possess or the money in your bank account. God does not need nor is he interested in your money. In fact, it is already His. He provided everything we have and we often forget that. But, He is interested in your heart, in your compassion, and in your generosity. This is so important to Him that Jesus says when you do these things for others, you do them to Him.

Matthew 25:31-40

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

When you help others, it is for God’s glory. It is an act of worship. Romans 12:1 says to be a living sacrifice. It is giving of yourself to help those in need. It is being a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. Ephesians 2:10 says that we were created to do good works.

Luke 12:29-34

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

God provides all of our needs. Trust Him and be content and grateful. And when you are blessed, share that blessing. The blessing you receive from blessing others will far exceed the blessing you already have and the treasure waiting for you in heaven will be far greater than any treasure in this world.