The Rich Fool: Program Notes

Three lessons from today’s parable:
1) Lesson #1: The man in the crowd is concerned about money, but Jesus has just told His disciples they
will face persecution. (Luke 12:1-12)
a) We tend to focus on what we think we deserve.
b) PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Ask yourself, “Have I counted the cost?”
Luke 9:23- Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up
his cross daily, and follow me.
c) PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Ask yourself, “What occupies my heart space?” Luke 12:19- Then I’ll say
to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy
yourself.”’
2) Lesson #2: Christ followers must not devote our lives to the accumulation of wealth. (Luke 12:13-20)
a) He who dies with the most toys wins… nothing.
b) PRACTICAL APPLICATION: For whom are you gaining wealth?
Luke 12:20b- And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?
Ecclesiastes 2:18- I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun because I must leave it to the
one who comes after me.
c) PRACTICAL APPLICATION: If money is your master, then Jesus is not.
Matthew 6:24- No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he
will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
3) Lesson #3: We are blessed to bless others, and to build the kingdom of God (Luke 12:21)
a) We are called to honor God with the first fruits of our gains.
Proverbs 3:9-10- Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first produce of your entire
harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
b) PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We are not blessed by God to store our gains for ourselves.
Psalm 62:10b- If wealth increases, don’t set your heart on it.
c) PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The most obvious way to bless others is through tithing to your local
church home.
Malachi 3:10 (NIV)- Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and
pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Conclusion: If we honor God with what He has given us, He will bless us more so that we can honor Him
more. (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)