In this sermon, we are confronted with the sobering parable of the rich fool in Luke 12: 13–21. When a man asked Jesus to settle an inheritance dispute, Jesus shifted the conversation to the deeper issue: greed. He warned, “Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” To illustrate, Jesus told of a man whose land produced abundantly. Instead of gratitude and generosity, the man planned to hoard—building bigger barns to secure his comfort for years. Yet God declared, “You fool, this very night your life will be demanded from you.”
Ps Inkyu reminds us that wealth in itself is not condemned—what matters is how we hold it. Do we treat resources as gifts to steward for God’s kingdom, or as shields to secure ourselves apart from Him? The tragedy of the rich fool is not his success, but his self-sufficiency. He made plans without God, forgot the brevity of life, and invested everything in the temporary while neglecting the eternal.
We are called to examine our own treasures. Where do we place our trust—our barns, our savings, our status, or the living God? To be “rich toward God” is to value His kingdom above our own comfort, to give generously, and to live with eternity in mind.
Key Takeaways:
- Greed is subtle—it disguises itself as planning, security, or success.
- Life’s true value is not measured by possessions, but by relationship with God.
- The rich fool’s error was not abundance, but arrogance—living as though God did not matter.
- Our barns, savings, or careers cannot secure our souls.
- To be rich toward God means using wealth for His purposes, not just our pleasure.
- Eternity can come suddenly—live ready, live generous, live faithful.
Reflection: Where are you building your barns—in this world or in God’s kingdom? What would it look like for you to be “rich toward God”?
