The Rich Fool

THE RICH FOOL

Luke 12:15-21

INTRO: Here is a rich man. Look at him. He is what almost all would like to be, and are striving to be.

Jesus brings accusation against this man. He does not say he is guilty of oppression or violence or fraud. He simply says that he had an abundance and he describes the effect that abundance had upon him.

I. IT INCREASED HIS COVETOUSNESS.

1. He decided to lay it up, to keep it.

1. The desire to possess increases as our possessions increase.

2. A man does not increase in liberality as his possessions

increase.

B. Covetousness is a sin we need to be on guard against

constantly.

II. HE WAS ANXIOUS.

A. He said, "What shall ‘I’ do?"

1. He didn’t have any place to store his goods.

2. Instead of thanking God, he was trying to figure our his prob

lem.

B. Wealth increases our cares and anxieties.

III. HE WAS SELFISH.

A. He was planning to build greater barns.

1. He forgot that others might be in need.

2. He forgot it is more blessed to give than to receive.

B. The more men have the more selfish they are with it, and the

more they try to add to what they have.

IV. HE WAS ATHEISTICAL.

A. He said, "This will ‘I’ do." He does not say if God wills I

will do this.

1. He does not consider himself a steward of God’s riches.

2. He thinks he was able to do it all by himself.

B. Great wealth very rarely makes a man a good steward for God.

More often a man becomes more selfish.

V. THE RICH MAN WAS A FOOLISH MAN.

A. He lived as a fool, and died as he lived.

1. He was concerned with laying up earthly treasures.

2. God required his life, and he lost all.

B. We need not be concerned with the riches of this world.

1. A man who places his values on things of God does not fear

death.

2. A man who places his values on worldly things is afraid of

leaving this earth.