He toils in the field day after day. He prepares the soil, and rises early to plant the seed. All spring and summer he labors. While others are playing, he’s planting. When others are resting, he’s reaping. At first glance, this man seems to be an ideal role model. His work ethic is unparalleled, and so is his bumper crop. So, why does Jesus call this man a fool? The parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21 identifies five subtle facts about a fool.
1—HIS FOOLISH PERCEPTION OF SELF
It was God who gave the him the material blessings, yet the man never acknowledged God as the Provider of his abundant harvest. He didn’t give a single thought how God would have him to steward the increase entrusted to him.
“And he thought within himself” (Luke 12:17).
His world revolved around himself. He assumed God blessed him to increase his standard of living. Never did he inquire of God how he should use the wealth placed into his hands to accomplish God’s will.
“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.” (Luke 12:18)
The repeated use of “I” and “my” revealed his self-centered perception of himself.
2—HIS FOOLISH PERSPECTIVE OF TIME
The rich fool was a farmer, and farmers know all about time. There is no time to waste when it comes to planting and harvesting. Yet, he failed to view time as a finite and valuable gift from God. Like many others, he lived as though he had an infinite supply of time. He forgot about life’s brevity underscored by Moses in his prayer.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
Like so many others who miss the connection between life’s brevity and the need wisdom, his thoughts were consumed with the demands of each day. Before he knew what happened, his heart stopped. He never thought today’s cup of coffee might be his last. For years he lived under the same illusion of immortality as many do, believing he had plenty of time. But tomorrow never came. He had good intentions, but he forfeited life’s number one priority: to personally know God. He planned for harvest, but not for Hell. His calendar wasn’t in sink with God’s, and he went bankrupt of time.
3—HIS FOOLISH PASSION FOR POSSESSIONS
His pursuit of wealth robbed him of the priceless blessings of life. He was impoverished in the things that truly mattered. He was convinced his own ingenuity and industry brought about his success which is why God gave this warning:
“And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)
He found his identity in his possessions and his purchasing power; not realizing it was a subtle trap which robbed him of what truly mattered in life. His material success was not how God measured his worth, and all his hoarding could never provide lasting happiness, security, or fulfill the deeper needs of his soul. His possessions possessed him.
4—HIS FOOLISH PURSUIT OF PLEASURE
The rich man intended to spend the remainder of his life enjoying himself. The years toiling in the hot fields were over. Now was his time to indulge himself and take it easy. He was through with watching others achieve success and lead a life of pleasure. Now it was his turn. Entertainment, travel, and fine dining was at his fingertips. Sadly, like King Solomon of old, he ultimately discovered his pursuit for pleasure was pointless. Ironically, the wisest man in the world became a fool for pleasure.
“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
The rich fool was never able to enjoy the life of pleasure he planned. His dream life quickly turned into a nightmare as everything he labored so hard for slipped away and he must give account of himself to God. He quickly discovered true joy and fulfillment come not from chasing pleasure but from a relationship with God and fulfilling His eternal purposes.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
5—HIS FOOLISH PREPARATION FOR ETERNITY
The most dangerous part about his foolishness was failing to prepare for eternity. The parable of the rich fool ends with God calling the man a fool because he stored up treasures for himself but
was not “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). He was temporarily rich, but in all the wrong things. The rich fool embodies many people alive today who live for today, and ignore the reality of eternity. He foolishly lived as though death was far off, with no sense of urgency to make things right with God. He didn’t plan on death knocking on his door.
“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?” (Luke 12:20)
His worldly assets couldn’t spare him. They would all be left to someone else. He was ready to enjoy his life but lacked spiritual readiness to give account of himself to God.
“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (James 4:14)
But there was one valuable thing he did pass on—a sobering warning for those of us living today. Be sure to fool-proof your life by living every day with the realization it may be your last. Don’t procrastinate receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior because you’re not promised tomorrow. Seek to build God’s kingdom, not yours. Embrace God’s wisdom over the foolishness of worldly thinking. Never substitute your identity in Jesus Christ with pleasure, positions, or possessions. Foolishness is not ignorance; it’s the failure to trust God, and it always leads to a shallow and unfulfilled life. The rich fool had a tragic ending not because he died early, but because he died eternally. In the end, the rich fool wasn’t really rich at all because he lost everything he worked to gain. Is your life fool-proof?
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
How will your story end?