12:16-21 What does this parable about the rich man teach?

This is called the parable of the rich fool. It is a grim warning to Christians against making material possessions the focus of this life at the expense of their souls in the next life. Jesus told this parable to illustrate the folly in thinking that a man's life consists in the abundance of possessions (cp Lk 12:13-15). Abundance in V15 means more than is needed.

The acquisition of wealth for the sake of it is covetousness, which is futile and self defeating, for the end of it is death (cp Eph 5:5; Col 3:1-6). Paul teaches here that covetousness is idolatry, and that no covetous person, or idolater, shall inherit the kingdom of God. A Christian's life is not to be spent accumulating material possessions and wealth which neither gives life nor provides security, because death separates from things.

This does not mean that we are not to labour for our own or our family's needs - we are obliged to provide for our family (cp Pr 13:11; Ec 5:18-20; 1Ti 5:8). We must not confuse covetousness with working to meet our needs. Covetousness is greed for material things and the desire to have more. The selfish amassing of wealth and possessions by Christians indicate that they no longer see life from the vantage point of eternity.

Their goal and their fulfilment is no longer in God, but in themselves and their possessions. It may not start out that way but that is how it will end up - we have God's word for it (cp Deut 31:20; 32:12-18; Hos 8:14; 13:6).

Jeshurun in Deut 32:15 is a symbolic name for Israel. Because of their wealth and success the Israelites had become self-sufficient, thinking that they no longer needed God and His help, but riches and possessions are only temporary.

They should not be the object of a Christian's faith - the desire for them causes Christians to sin (cp Pr 28:16, 20-22; 1Ti 6:9-12). Paul teaches in 1Ti 6:9-12 that the pursuit of wealth debases the mind, destroys Godly traits and makes Christians selfish, proud, and avaricious, which all lead to eternal damnation.

Perdition refers to the state after death wherein exclusion from salvation is a realized fact, wherein man, instead of becoming what he might have been in God, is lost and ruined forever. In this context perdition is the final destiny of Christians who determine to be rich, because this desire for wealth is not a passing thing but the result of a process of reasoning - the word will in V9 is from the Greek word boulomai, which refers to a desire that comes from the reasoning faculties, not from the emotions, while coveted in V10 is orego, which means to stretch one's self out in order to grasp something; to reach after, or desire something.

This applies to all grades of wealth and Paul's warning to Timothy in V11 to flee it is a warning to all Christians whose ambition is to have more money than that which satisfies their everyday needs (cp Psa 37:16; Pr 15:16; 30:7-9; Ec 5:10-17; 6:9; Jer 45:5; Ro 12:16; Php 4:11-13; 1Ti 6:6-8; He 13:5-6).

Those scriptures all teach the same thing: Godliness with sufficient material blessings to meet our everyday needs should make us content with life. Covetousness and financial fear are overcome by a contentment founded upon the assurance of God's constant presence for those who seek His help.

The word conversation in He 13:5 (KJV), means manner, or way of life. This teaches that a Christian's way of life has to be without the desire for more than that which will satisfy our everyday needs. Jesus equates the desire for wealth with serving mammon (cp Mt 6:19-21, 24). Mammon refers to earthly riches. Jesus sees in the desire for riches a life-goal totally opposed to God which claims men's hearts, and therefore estranges them from God.

None of this teaching denies the promise of God in scripture to prosper His children, but that is the point the parable of the rich fool makes: God is the one who blesses, and believers with wealth and possessions must not see themselves as being rich, but merely stewards of that which is God's.

They must be generous, ready to share, and rich in good works (cp Deut 7:11-15; 28:1-14; Josh 1:8; Psa 1:1-3; 34:9-10; 112:1-9; Pr 11:24-26; 19:17; 22:9; 28:27; Lk 6:38; 1Ti 6:17-19; Jas 2:14-17; 1Jn 3:16-19).

Dedication to work as its own reward is a vain pursuit. The ability to enjoy what we have depends on a right relationship with God. Without God it is all in vain. The rich fool in the parable gave no thought to the things of God.

He mistook the purpose of life, imagining it consisted in the abundance of his possessions rather than it being a channel of blessing for others of God's children in need. Scriptures teach that the primary purpose for Christians even getting a job is to help others in need (cp Eph 4:28). The fate of the rich fool generalises the fate of all who are more concerned with possessions than the things of God.

See also comments on Lk 12:13-15, 12:33-34 and author's study Christians and Wealth in his book Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith.

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