He
spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
Luke 12:16-18
Luke 12 [14.] But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” He said to them, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”
Luke 12 [16.] He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly. He reasoned within himself, saying, ‘What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?’ He said, ‘This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.”’
Luke 12 [20.] “But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Meaning:
A man in the crowd has asked Jesus to make his brother divide their inheritance (Luke 12:13-14). Jesus refused to judge the dispute and warned everyone, “Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses” (Luke 12:15). To show what he means, he tells the parable of the rich fool. These verses describe the man’s plans; the following verses reveal God’s verdict on them (Luke 12:19-20).
- “The ground of a certain rich man produced abundantly.”
The man was already rich, and now an exceptional harvest made him richer still. Nothing in the story suggests he gained his wealth dishonestly. A good harvest was a gift from God, who sends sun and rain. The Scriptures saw such abundance as a blessing: “Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase: … so your barns will be filled with plenty” (Proverbs 3:9-10). The question is what he will do with the gift.
- “He reasoned within himself”
The man talks only to himself. He does not consult God, his family, his workers or his neighbours. Notice how often he says “I” and “my”: “my crops,” “my barns,” “my grain and my goods.” In his mind everything belongs to him, and everything exists for him. There is no thanksgiving to God and no thought of the poor, though the Law of Moses told Israel to leave part of the harvest for the poor and the foreigner (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19).
- “What will I do, because I don’t have room to store my crops?”
His problem is too much, not too little. Many people would see this as a happy problem. For him it becomes a trap. He could have shared his surplus generously. Instead, he looks for a way to keep it all. Jesus later urges his disciples, “Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy” (Luke 12:33).
- “I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones”
His plan is sensible from a business point of view. Storing grain in good years could protect against bad years. But this man is not planning for others; he is planning for his own comfort and security. He goes on to tell his soul to take its ease, eat, drink and be merry for many years. He assumes that he controls the future, but Proverbs warns, “Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring” (Proverbs 27:1). James says the same to merchants who plan to trade and make a profit: “Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow” (James 4:14).
Wealth also fails to satisfy. “He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Bigger barns would never be big enough.
The Significance of Luke 12:16-18
- Stewardship, not ownership
Everything we have comes from God. Possessions are entrusted to us to use for his purposes and for the good of others.
- Planning without God
Making plans is not wrong, but planning that leaves God out is folly. Believers plan humbly, saying, “If the Lord wills.”
- Generosity with abundance
Times of plenty are opportunities to give. Paul tells the rich “that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute” (1 Timothy 6:18).
Cross-References:
Luke 12:15: "for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses." The warning the parable illustrates.
Luke 12:19-20: "You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you." God’s verdict on the rich man.
Proverbs 27:1: "Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring." No one controls the future.
1 Timothy 6:17: "Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches," Hope in God, not wealth.
Conclusion: In the parable of the rich fool, a wealthy man received a bumper harvest and decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store everything for himself. He spoke only to himself, thought only of himself and planned as if the future were his. Jesus shows that abundance is a test: it can lead to thanksgiving and generosity, or to self-centred security that forgets God.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible