Parable of a Rich Fool tells not to Covet, and that Life is not by the Abundance of things.

1. Jesus told this parable to caution against Covetousness.

The parable of a Rich Fool in Luke 12:16-21 is to his disciples. He gives a one liner caution in verse 15, and his command to his disciples in verses 22-34. Jesus Christ called only a few people to follow him as his disciples and made a few of them as his apostles. Many people show their desire to follow him, but he denied them. Many women served him to cater many of his needs. He advised most people to live an ordinary godly life. There are different levels of life among them, who we are called in. The instructions to them are different according to their levels. We must find out our level of calling and we must learn to operate in that level. If your call is just to remain in your family as a godly person, be satisfied; but do not to try to become or to act like someone greater. If you do, you will be overwhelmed and will break up. If your calling is to be a disciple or an apostle, God will let you know. Be satisfied in where God called you in. Learn the scriptures; and if you do not know the truth, do not try to teach the word of God. If you teach error, it will be the doctrine of the devil; then, God will punish you as in James 3:1. It says, "My brethren, be not many masters (it means teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.", that is, you will be cast into the lake of fire.

The reason for the parable is to caution his disciples about covetousness. Always the reason will be more important than the example. So, we must study the parable in the light of the reason. "Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." We have two words of warning; 'take heed' and 'beware'. Jesus Christ used the two words of caution side by side to emphasize the importance. Then he says that life is NOT in the abundance of things. For an example: Say that you have three cars. If you need all three cars, that is fine; but you just have them to show others that you are rich enough to have three cars, then it is abundance. For an Indian woman, if you have 100 sarees, if you do not actually need them all; it is abundance. However, it is not covetousness, but God says the life does not consist of these things. Though it is not sin, these things are not necessary in life; it is what God says. Jesus Christ says in "Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? In Mark 8:36 he says, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" The main point is, beware of Covetousness; but it also has a supportive statement saying that, our godly life must be with contentment, but not in abundance. It is in "1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." Meaning of covetousness is the desire of something that belongs to someone else. Covetousness is condemned as a sin even in the commandments. "Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet ... Romans 7:7 ... the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 13:9 ... Thou shalt not covet; ..." It is not only in the old testament, but it also is carried over to the new testament. Jesus Christ has brought it out as a single command to be beware, that is to be very careful in our life. Again, to desire things is not covetousness, but to desire the thing of others is covetousness. The command is not against having riches, but it is against coveting. The parable is about two things: One is covetousness and the second is the abundance of things in our life.

2 What is and what is not covetousness? Covet the gifts of God.

Jesus Christ made this commandment very important, but at the same time kept it simple. "Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Deuteronomy 5:21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's." God did not stop by saying "Thou shalt not covet", but he continues to give examples of what is coveting; as, neighbor's wife, for if you desire her it will be also adultery; neighbor's house, or car, and such; neighbor's servants or ox, and such things; in short, do not desire anything that belongs to others. That is, if your neighbor or your friend has an expensive beautiful car or a house, and if you desire to have that car or that house, it is coveting his thing. However, if you need a house and even if you bought a more expensive car or house, it is not coveting. This is the general meaning of the commandment, that is, not to covet the things of others, but if you desire even a better thing, it is not coveting. "Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Conversation means life; so, keep your life without coveting; then, God will be with you, and you will be blessed. One more point to notice is that, as God tells us not to covet the things of others, he tells us to covet the gifts from God, and he want to give it to you. "1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: 14:39 ... covet to prophesy,.. " And God will make you his minister. So, coveting the things of God is needed for heavenly glory, but God tells you not to covet the things of others.

3. Jesus shifts the gear of his kingdom from the world to Heaven.

The next verse: "16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:" It is a plentiful harvest; it is in the old testament settings; so, it is a blessing from God, and the rich man was blessed. But God was shifting his gear from the kingdom of Jews in the world, to the kingdom of God in heaven. It is new. "Matthew 3:2 Jesus says, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." By the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus; God took away the Old and established the New. In the old testament, Abraham, Jacob, Solomon, and Job were not simply rich; but they were very rich. Whatever they decided to do with their riches were fine. But this rich man was in the time of transition from the Old to the New; we are in the new covenant, and the Old is void. "17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods." He had a lot more harvest than he ever expected; of course, it was a blessing in the old testament setting; the covenant was not yet changed; and now he was planning how he could keep the grains for a long time. Please look at what Solomon says: "Ecclesiastes 5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 8:15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. Matthew 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? ..." So, in the old testament settings, to enjoy the blessings in life was perfectly fine, it was not sin, and it was the gift of God; even to build a larger barn was not sin. But Jesus just begun to preach to "distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; in Luke 18:22." But it was not told to Abraham, Jacob, Solomon, and Job. So, his plans to keep the blessing, and not to distribute them, was not sin. This rich man neither desires for more, nor shares what he has. He wants to take it easy, and to enjoy the rest of the future life. They were not sins! But Jesus Christ called him a fool. Why, because he did not consider eternal life. Please realize that it is a parable to teach 'the New' covenant. There might not have been a Rich Fool existed at all. But the study is important since Jesus Christ is teaching an important new lesson even to us.

4. Rich man is a fool; worldly blessings are not for eternity.

Christians are not true Christians until they realize that they are not only a living body as animals, but also they are eternal Souls. We are born as body and soul. Our bodies die, but our souls will not die since they are eternal. Our souls need the Spirit to live for God, and to inherit the kingdom of God in heaven. If we are not born of the Spirit, we cannot live for God, and then we will be in the lake of fire. The rich man says in "19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry." This rich man is from the old testament order, he was not a Christians, and he does not know that a man has body and soul; and he refers his body and soul as soul, but soul will not eat, drink, and be merry. Now Jesus Christ, through the parable, teaches that we are body and soul. When the body dies; the soul will leave the body, but it will not die. "20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" He simply says that if you die tonight, your plenty of riches will instantly become no value to you. We think along with bible teachers that Jesus was condemning the rich man; but it is a parable, and so he rather was teaching his disciples and us that we have souls, and we must take care of our souls also along with our bodies. "21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Rich towards God simply means to invest our things in heaven also, so that our souls will also have riches. Jesus Christ also says in "Matthew 16:26, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" If a man lose his soul, that is, if he loses his eternal life, and if he owns the whole world, what good is it to him, as he burns in the lake of fire?" Matthew 19:21 ... give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:..." This is how to become rich toward God, by giving priority to his soul in wealth and prosperity. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 say, "17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." Our eternal life is more important than our life in the world. But we very rarely realize this. Here are two links for details. Link: 1. "Escape Hell," 2. "Inherit Heaven."

5. Sons of God and Bride of Christ are mostly from Disciples.

Ignorant and false preachers will preach any portion of scripture to anybody with no discernment. For an example, street preachers should preach sinners to repent; that is what John the Baptist and Jesus Christ preached to them. But most of our street preachers preach love and grace to them. But in the bible, love was preached to disciples and grace was given to apostle Paul. Verses 22-34 belongs only to the disciples, but not to immature believers. Anybody may listen, but they will not follow. In these verses, Jesus Christ promises a few things to his disciples on the field. So, if you are not his disciple, these verses are not given to you. The question is: who are his disciples; and do you know anybody? Yes, there are disciples even now, even though the number of them are almost nothing. The disciples are called by God for a dedicated sacrificial life. They will be persecuted, even by the so-called religious church, and probably by their own family. The disciples will not be afraid of them and will be ready to face them. They will be bold, righteous in life, and holy towards God. "Romans 8:17 ... if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." The disciple will suffer as Jesus Christ suffered, but they will be glorified as Jesus Christ is glorified in heaven. They will be with Jesus Christ.

["22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment."] In 22&23 Jesus Christ tells them not to worry about food and clothing. Since they do the work of God, they may be fed by believers; or they may do manual work also for their living. They are not promised luxury, but they are promised provision in life. ["24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?"] In 24, he shows how God feeds the birds and tells them that God will take care of them. ["25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?"] In 25&26, he says that if they try to grow taller, they cannot do it; and so, trust in God. ["27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind."] In verses 27-29 Jesus tells his disciples to have faith in God and to depend on him; and God promises to take care of them. If God has not given you such a faith, you are not called to be his disciple. "30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." Please notice, that God tells these things only to his disciples on the field, but not to us. So, if you are not his disciples on the field, count yourself among the nations, which is the society. When he says nations, we may not be all sinners, but common people. Next verse also will apply to his disciples. "31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." God tells them to seek the kingdom of God, and God will take care of their worldly needs. We also quote this verse for ourselves. But most of us seek the kingdom of God, in order to get the things of the world and to become rich. It is very funny. But we like to trick God to receive the riches of this world. "32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." This little flock is the Bride of Christ. They are mostly from his disciples on the field. However, this does not mean that the common believers will not inherit his kingdom. When we say heaven, it could be paradise, temple of God in new earth, new heavens, and heavenly Zion; and we will attain according to what we have done. If we suffered enough, we may inherit the kingdom of God as Sons of God, as well as Bride of Christ. "33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." If it is this way, all our processions are invested in heaven. We will be the top in heaven. But it is not given to most of us. The life of the disciples is the most difficult life in this world, but for a short time, when compared to the most glorious life in eternity. Study details in the Link: "Inherit Kingdom."