Lessons from the 'Rich Fool'

It was at the height of Jesus’ ministry that a man asked Him to arbitrate a family dispute over inheritance. Back then, most religious leaders were extremely eager to turn such grievances into a cause célèbre from which a new legal precedent could be established.

Even in modern society, there is still no shortage of religious leaders from all faiths who are keen to promote their current affairs punditry, while making moral pronouncements that enhance their social justice credentials.

In fact, it is the prevalence of this zealous desire to weigh in on civil disputes that makes Jesus' reluctance to impose His authority on a secular dispute even more extraordinary.

Instead, Jesus asked the man rhetorically: 'who made me a judge or divider over you?' and then warned against the selfish motives that prompted the request: 'Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”' (Luke 12:15)

There are two conclusions that we can draw from Jesus' refusal.

1. Weighing in on secular disputes

Firstly, Christ’s example calls into question the extent to which Christian leaders should weigh in on secular disputes.

2. Our motives matter

Secondly, the man’s request suggested that he was more focused on getting Jesus to support his demand for inheritance than on alleviation of intolerable hardship. He was clearly motivated by greed masquerading as a desire for equality.

To counter this, Christ told the parable of the Rich Fool. The story described a landowner who enjoyed a massive surplus at harvest time. Surpluses can arise unexpectedly because of improvement in the economy, development of a new and marketable invention or talent, a pay rise, a lucrative business deal, or even the death of a wealthy relative.

The bounteous harvest prompted the rich man to invest in a larger facility to store his surplus. This was intended to fund a long and comfortable retirement: 'Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.'

Nowadays, most people would commend this decision as a sensible way to manage a windfall. Even lottery winners receive similar advice on setting up funds to manage and grow their fortunes for their long-term future.

Yet, the parable exposes the rich man’s error: 'But 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?’

In short, wealth provides no guarantee of a long-term future during which it can be spent. It must have been soul-destroying for the rich man to realise that he would only enjoy as much of his harvest as he could consume in one night!

Yet, it is our instinct for self-preservation that causes us to focus on pursuing material gain to the extent that we become blinkered to the transience of life. No amount of wealth alters the fact that we are all ‘here today and gone tomorrow.’

The vagaries of life force us to abandon those blinkers to recognise that adverse events, such natural disasters and illness can so easily foil our long-term intentions. A few mishaps here and there can reduce man’s shrewdest schemes to nothing.

Through this parable, Jesus calls us to recognise the harsh reality encapsulated in the maxim: “Man proposes, God disposes”.

Human history provides a sobering chronicle of the myriad ways in which the best-laid plans of the most powerful people have been subverted.

As far less powerful people, if we are to cope with that uncertainty, then, despite the experience of a windfall tempting us to have a self-indulgent splurge, we need to live within our current means and realise that such a blessing is also an opportunity to be ‘Good Samaritans’ to those in need (cf. 2 Cor. 8:14).

In the end, hoarding wealth is both futile and inimical to authentic spirituality. As Micah declared: 'He has shown me, O man, what is good and what The Lord requires: but to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God' (Micah 6:8).