The Parable of the Rich Fool

Luke 12

¹³ Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." ¹⁴ But He said to him, _n "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?" ¹⁵ And He said to them, _o "Take heed and beware of ₁ covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." ¹⁶ Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷ "And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' ¹⁸ "So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹ 'And I will say to my soul, _p "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; _q eat, drink, and be merry." ' ²⁰ "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night _r your soul will be required of you; _s then whose will those things be which you have provided?' ²¹ "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, _t and is not rich toward God."

1. Cross References
   John 18:36
   Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.
   
2. Cross References
   1 Timothy 6:6 - 10
   Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
   
3. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 11:9
   Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.
   1 Corinthians 15:32
   If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!
   James 5:5
   You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
   
4. Cross References
   Ecclesiastes 2:24
   Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.
   Ecclesiastes 3:13
   And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor - it is the gift of God.
   Ecclesiastes 5:18
   Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
   Ecclesiastes 8:15
   So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.
   
5. Cross References
   Job 27:8
   For what is the hope of the hypocrite, Though he may gain much, If God takes away his life?
   Psalms 52:7
   "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness."
   James 4:14
   Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
   
6. Cross References
   Psalms 39:6
   Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
   Jeremiah 17:11
   " As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, So is he who gets riches, but not by right; It will leave him in the midst of his days, And at his end he will be a fool."
   
7. Cross References
   Matthew 6:20
   But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, ...
   Luke 12:33
   Sell what you have and give alms; provide yours...
   1 Timothy 6:18
   Let them do good, that they be rich in good wor...
   1 Timothy 6:19
   Storing up for themselves a good foundation for...
   James 2:5
   Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen...
   James 5:1 - 5
   Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your mise...