Rich Toward God
Luke 12:13-21
Key Verse: 12:21
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Last Friday day, there was Annual Founder’s day Celebration. P. Ron Ward delivered a powerful message full of spirit and heart with theme, “Don’t you remember?” (Mk8:18) It is really important to remember what God has done through Jesus, especially in his suffering, death, and resurrection. When we remember it, we come to have understanding that Jesus is the Lord and savior and then we come to have courageous faith to fight against fears and failures. His message reminded us of Dr. Samuel Lee’s life of faith. When UBF ministry was under severe persecution by deprogramming and no one helped, he remembered the gospel of Jesus and held onto Jesus’ word “Have Faith in God.” Many campus students were inspired by his faith and his shepherd for them and grew to become shepherds including P. Ran Ward himself. His message was followed by 4 life testimonies. Personally, all of them reminded me of one of Dr. Samuel Lee’s spiritual legacy, “Go Back to the Bible.” When they remembered the word of God in their troubles and despairs, each of them found the wonderful grace of salvation in Jesus and such grace empower t hem to devote their lives for campus mission in Europe, in Korean, and America. “Remember the word of God” then it will change your life.
Today’s passage is known as “the parable of the rich fool.” Everyone wants to be rich. Also, God had blessed mankind to be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it; rule over every living creature. No one thinks that being rich is foolish. However, in this passage Jesus called this rich man “the fool” for storing up things in this world for himself out of greed. Calling the rich man “the fool,” Jesus challenges this materialistic and godless generation to repent of its idolatry by accepting God’s sovereignty. Through this bible study, Let us learn from Jesus how to become wise and rich people who use the life and the wealth God has given us for his glory. We may be rich toward God by storing up treasures in the kingdom of God.
First, be on guard against all kinds of greed (13-15).
Look at verse 13. “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’” Surrounded by large crowds of people, Jesus was teaching the disciples very serious topics such as the bad influence of the Pharisees, the persecutions and trials which they would receive, and also fearing God who can through them in hell. Then, in the middle of the teaching, a man said, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” What was he talking about? Clearly this man was not listening to Jesus. Though Jesus was teaching the precious words of life, he could not listen anything for his mind was already occupied with the inheritance problem.
In Jesus’ time, the inheritance, usually land and cattle, got divide among sons. The oldest son got a double portion of the rest of the brothers. We don’t know what had happened to him in detail, but it seems like his older brother did not share the inheritance with him; probably it took it all, leaving him empty handed. He, probably younger brother, was really upset and angry for this unfairness and even began to hate his brother. Still today, this inheritance causes a lot of heartache and strain on family relationships. Often it results in strain and stress at best, legal battles and lifelong divisions at worst. Siblings fight over every item in the house; they fight over the money in the bank account, the home that they all grew up in. People got consumed and torn apart on the inside fighting over inheritance.
Then, how did Jesus help this man? Look at verses 14. “Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’” Firstly, Jesus rebuked this man in order to awake him spiritually to see who Jesus really is. Though he addressed Jesus “Teacher,” he did not seek Jesus’ counsel. Rather, he wanted Jesus to do what he want : rebuke his brother and force him to divide the inheritance. Just like this man, many people misunderstand Jesus as simply a moral teacher or a judge. Frequently we engage in conflicts over trivial issues and request that Jesus rebuke or admonish others, using Jesus’ teachings to pass judgment based on our own desires. In this way, we often confine Jesus to being the strict enforcer of moral codes in our lives and in the lives of others. Then, we come to feel burdened, and think His teaching makes us feel guilty or take fun out of our lives. But, it is not why Jesus came and taught the word of God. Obviously Jesus had not been sent to become a judge in our petty matters.
Jesus came to heal the sick. Luke 5:31-32 says, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinner to repentance” Jesus wants to heal all our sin-sickness and make us whole from the inside out. He is the healer of our souls. Jesus also came to set us free from the bondage of sin. Jesus, the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Lk19:10) The word of Jesus is not simple moral teaching, but it is the word of God, the word of truth, the word of eternal life. It has power to penetrate our hearts and divide our thoughts; it has power to make us to be new creation as the children of God. For anyone who accepts it and believes it, the word of Jesus bring us the kingdom of God. Jesus, the Son of God, came to give us the kingdom of God, through his death on a cross and resurrection from the dead. Jesus is the Lord and savior
Secondly, Jesus revealed the deep root problem that was greed in all people. Look at verse 15. “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’” Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.” What is greed? The definition of greed is this: An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs, especially with respect to material wealth, possessions and money. Do you think greed is a serious problem? The Bible teaches us in Col3:5 that greed is idolatry. Outwardly this man came to Jesus with the inheritance problem, but it was because of his greed for material possession in his heart. Though he might have enough to support himself, he wanted to have more. To get the inheritance, he accused and despised his own brother in public. Because of the money, their relationships had been broken, and turned out to be enemies to each other. This man loved and valued the money more than his own brother. He valued the money more than God’s word to love his own brother. That is why greed is idolatry.
Some people are willing to work crazy hours; others abandon family and friends to make more money. Not only for money, but there are all kinds of greed. Some greed for money, recognition, food, love, power, achievement, position, shoes, clothes, beauty, and so on. Just like money, the greed in one’s heart fools him/her to serve its desires first. Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.” We should guard our hearts from all kinds of greed.
Anyone could have desires, but greed “to have a little more” cause serious consequences. Greedy people are never satisfied since they always want to have a little more. Ecc5:10 says, “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.” They always want to have a little bit more. So, they are never filled, satisfied, or happy.
That is why such people are always anxious, ungrateful, prone to complaining, and harbor feelings of anger and hatred to others. There is no contentment in their hearts. No matter how much they possess, greedy people always complain to God about what they do not have. Eventually they are willing to do anything to satisfy their desires.
However, the greed blinds people; it makes them foolish. The greed in people’s hearts convince them that life consist in the abundance of their possessions. Then, they think that the more they possess, the better their live become, and the happier they become. They want to have better jobs, nicer cars, and bigger houses to make their lives superior over others. They believe that their money, job, car, and house make their lives more worthwhile and meaningful life. Isn’t it sounds familiar? Yes. It is just like what materialism and pagan beliefs suggest. The greedy in people’s hearts turns them to be isolators of materials.
But, look at verse 15b. “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” With the truth, Jesus challenges the deception of greed and materialistic thinking. Jesus helped the man see who he is (Identity); for what he is made (purpose); what consist his life (essence of his life). Abundance of possession does not bring us happiness. No matter how much we possess, nothing can make our life abundant or meaningful. We should know that our live dose not consist in the material possession. Man’s life is not made complete by things he may possess, even if he has an abundance of them.
Then, we need to ask a question. “What does our life consist of? What brings us happiness? What provides us with satisfaction and meaning? Is it how much we possess? No. It is God. God should be the center of lives. God himself should be what we hope for. God should be in every area of our lives. It is because God, the creator is the one who gives meaning, satisfaction, and happiness. The life without God is nothing but foolish, meaningless, empty life. The king Solomon who had the most wealth and the most wisdom of the whole world cried out, “Meaningless, Meaningless. Utterly meaningless; everything is meaningless.” It was because he lost God in his heart.
Jesus reminded the man and us that who we are. We are children of God, created in the image of God. So, God is the very source of our lives. John 1:4 says “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” The Bible tells us that life comes from Jesus. Jesus is the bread of life; Jesus is the living water; Jesus is the light of life; Jesus give life all those who believe in him. Here is my favorite hymn. “Jesus is the all the world to me; my life, my joy, my all; he is my strength from day to day; without him I would fall. When I am sad, to him I go; No other one can cheer me so, When I am sad, he makes be glade; he’s my friend.
In UBF, we have seen countless beautiful examples of missionaries and shepherds who give up so much in order to love and serve God. When I visited Bonn, I met one of God’s servant. He graduated from top law school in Korea. He was on track to b a judge. When he told that he had worked with “MyungBak Lee” for “Construction Business in Saudi,” I was really surprised. In that time, only few people could have such connection which could guarantee success. However, he gave up all to come to American as a missionary. Rather than enjoying the benefits of the job and the status which his education could have given him in Korea, he came to American to be a missionary by working add jobs that included working at a gas station. He is one of countless examples of people who sacrificed opportunities and chose jobs with lower pay in order to keep God first in his hearts. He is truly rich man who has God and God’s kingdom in his heart.
Second, Rich toward God (16-21)
To help the man to understand the truth, Jesus tells a parable in verses 16-20. Look at verse 16. “And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.” In this parable, the man was already rich. He was rich man who was now even richer because the ground produced an abundant harvest. Then, what did he begin to do?
Look at verses 17-19. In these verses we see the word “I” repeating six times and the word “my” repeating five times. It seemed like he was diligent, hard working and promising man. Then, what was wrong with him? Look at what he thought, what he said, and what he planned. The problem is that there is no God in his life, in his thought, and in his plan. He lived as if there was no God. He thought that all things were his own; his field, his grain, his barns, his goods, his problem, his decision, and his future. He became self-centered, proud, and totally forgotten God. Then he totally lost his meaning of his life, and the purpose of his life. Look at verse 19. “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” He seemed wise and successful. He might be the best bridegroom candidates.
But in verse 20, God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” God said to him “You fool.” It was because he became godless. By the time the rich was about to enjoy his life, God will demand his life. He thought his life was pretty much in his own hands, but God saw this as the ultimate expression of a fool’s heart. At the moment he was about to enjoy his wealthy, he died. He could not bring his treasure with him. He was taken from this world to stand before God. He stood before God with empty hand. What a foolish man he is. God called him “Fool!” What Jesus said actually had happed in the book of Daniel. In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar held a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine from holy articles, praising the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. Daniel rebuked him, “you did not honor the God who holds in his hands your life and all your ways.”(Dn5:23) That very night he was slain, and then Darius took over the kingdom. Godless life does not mean only immoral life, but also selfish and self-centered life which rejects God, the Sovereign who hold in his hand our life and all our ways.
On the other hand, he could have lived godly lives. How? First of all, by acknowledging the Lord God who gave him the abundant harvest; giving thanks to God; praising God; inquiring of God for his future; listening to God’s purpose of making him rich; and even sharing what he had by obeying God’s word to love its neighbors. However, he did not do anything, but storing up things for himself. What would you do if you were this rich man?
Look at verse 21. “This is how it will be for anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” It is foolish to live in a way to store up treasure for ourselves in this world. It is foolish to live such selfish life without God. Our life is nothing if there is no God. Our life does not consist in our possessions or achievement. Our life consists in God. God is not opposed to riches. But the issue is what we are going to do with them. We should not be fooled by materials; we should not be deceived by lies of the world or deception of our desires.
God has blessed America abundantly to produce a good crop. Then, what are we going to do with such blessings? Are we going to make same foolish decision like the rich man? “Take life easy, eat, drink and be merry.” No. We should be steward for God’s blessings. All things are given from God. So, it is God’s field. It is God’s crops. It is God’s barn. Our life is also God’s. We are not the owner, but a steward. God has blessed America not to be selfish, but to be shepherd nation for all other nations; to be a missionary sending nation. That is why God has blessed UBF Ministry to raise shepherds through 1:1 Bible Study and Disciple-making ministry.
Lastly we should think about what make our lives rich toward God. Look at verse 12:33 “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” Life of giving is a way to be rich toward God. Instead of hugging and kissing dollar bills, we must use them freely for the work of God. Instead of storing up things for ourselves like this foolish rich man, we should store treasures in the kingdom of God by living the life of giving.
Thank God for M. John’s great example to live in obedience to the word “you give them something to eat!” His life of giving became the foundation of NJ Ministry and His Milton Bible Center. Dr. Samuel Lee’s life also tells us how to be rich toward God. It is by teaching 1:1 Bible Study and Raising up disciples of Jesus. Through 4 life testimonies, I realized that all we are the fruits of his life of faith. The point of our life is not to store up things for ourselves. But the ultimate and eternal purpose of our lives is to be rich toward God. Our best example is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Though he was the Son of God with all glory and honor, he came into this world as a baby in a manger. He had no place to lay his head. He gave his life to the work God called him to do, which would eventually lead him to giving up his very life on the cross. He did not live to store up treasures in this world. He lived to serve and to give his life for sinners. He lived to do the will of God – giving his life for the forgiveness of sins. Then, God gave him all authority in heaven and on earth; God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. (Phi2:9-10)
Let us read 12:21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Let us learn from Jesus to be wise and rich toward God.