♣ LUKE 12:13-21 (NRSV) Parable of the Rich Fool
 
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’ 14But he said to him, ‘Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ 15And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ 16Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” 18Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” 20But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” 21So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’
 
 
LOOKING INTO THE SCRIPTURE
1. In verse 13, what was the man in the crowd really saying to Jesus?
a. my brother is treating me poorly
b. I want my share of the action
c. would you straighten out this mess?
d. my brother is greedy
e. what does the Jewish law say about in heritance?
 
2. In his reply, what was Jesus telling the crowd?
a. greed will get you into trouble
b. 1 am not a judge or an arbiter
c. money, wealth, and material goods are not important
d. concern for money and wealth can easily get out of control
 
3. In the parable, what is Jesus saying about wealth and the pursuit of wealth?
a. wealth can make us greedy
b. wealth will make us better people
c. wealth can be used to further the kingdom of God
d. wealth can make us self-indulgent
 
4. Why is God's response to the rich man harsh?
a. because God is intolerant of self-indulgent people
b. because God has so much compassion for the poor
c. because God wanted him to use his resources more wisely
d. because God is jealous of other "gods" such as wealth
 
5 What does it mean to be "rich toward God"?
a. seek first the kingdom of God
b. give most of your money to the poor
c. use your abilities and resources to further God's kingdom
d. invest in church lotteries
 
6 If Jesus commented on our view of wealth today, what might he say?
a. "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" is not the way to go
b. you are grabbing for it all but missing the true meaning of life
c. it is difficult to see the difference between Christian values and secular values today
d. you have so much but you are spiritually bankrupt.
 
 
MY OWN ST0RY
1. Where are your riches? (Name two)
a. in my children
b. in my friends
c. in my bank account
d. in my education
e. in my job advancement
f. in a good self-image
g. in a strong body
h. in some beautiful memories
i. in my family
 
2. What are three priorities for your life right now?
a. a good time
b. a good marriage / family
c. having nice things
d. getting ahead
e. being true to myself
f. finding spiritual fulfillment
g. making a contribution to mankind
h. making lots of money
 
3. How would you like to be remembered?
a. as the one who had a lot
b. as the one who gave a lot
c as the one who built it all single-handedly.
d. as the one who enjoyed what he/she had
e. as the one who lost it all to be rich toward God
 
4. Where would you like to leave your riches?
a. to my family
b. to a charitable cause that I believe in
c. to build a memorial at my church
d. to my college/school
e. to overseas missions
f. to the government