Rich Toward God

Topic : Rich Toward God 

Text : Luke 12: 13-21 

4 Aug 2019 

Rev Ngui Au Sze 

Introduction 

The background to the passage This is the parable to the rich fool. Jesus was teaching in a large crowd with the disciples on how to confess their faith even if it meant that they will be arrested by the authorities and come before judges. 

1. What provoked Jesus? (vs 13-15) Jesus was annoyed with the man who ask a questioned regarding his family inheritance dispute while Jesus was trying to encourage the disciples that in the future they may have to face hardship for their faith. The man’s question showed that he was more concerned about his inheritance and well-being rather than his faith thus disturbing Jesus teaching. Jesus reminded him that there are more important matters beside riches and inheritance. 

2. Why is the rich man a fool? (vs 16-20) 

a. An abundant harvest = a good agriculturalist He was a good and careful farmer and knew how to cultivate his land to yield good harvests consistently. 

b. Storing up grain = “saving for a rainy day” He was wise enough to store up grain for those lean years of harvest and building bigger barns to store even more grains to create a bigger buffer for the eventual extra lean harvest. 

How to store the grains is just as important else it will rot and be of no use in the future. 

c. How long a life = in God’s Hand The farmer is considered a wise man in every aspect in his stewardship of his crop and harvest however he made the mistake that he thought he is in control with the length of his life in this this world. He was called a fool because he had accorded finite things with infinite value and as a result before dawn came, his live ended. 

3. Rich toward God (vs 21) He was a fool because he was not rich towards God for he did not acknowledge God who had provided rain and sunshine for the abundant harvest that had made him very successful. He had made no acknowledgement of God in his life nor did he feel God had anything to do with his life. He does not think of God and his relationship with him but only of his crop and the enjoyment of his life. We do not know when Christ will come again or will we meet Him first. We cannot control the infinite with the finite and therefore we must prepare ourselves to meet God anytime. Unlike the foolish rich man who thought he could have control over infinite matter, we must live a live that is prepared to meet God face to face and, in the process, cultivating a deep intimacy with our Lord. 

Conclusion 

The question we need to ask in our lives is that is our material abundance sufficient to meet the weight of meaning, significance and joy that we seek. It is only when we are rich towards God that He can grant us the confidence that we are worthy of love and honour and in right relationship with God and neighbour. These are the pursuit of infinite things that we should be after. 

Reflection questions: 

1. A man asked Jesus to tell his brother to share the inheritance with him. Is this a good solution to solve this problem? Why or why not? 

2. How do we store up things for ourselves? 

3. What does it require to be rich toward God? Are there other ways beside what was shared in the sermon?