JESUS' TEACHING - PARABLES

                                   10. THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL 

"Then Jesus said to them, "Be careful and guard against all kinds of GREED. Life is not measured about how much one owns."  Then Jesus told this story: 

"There was a rich man who had some land and grew a GOOD CROP. He thought to himself: "What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops." Then he said: "This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my grain and other goods. Then I can say to myself , "I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink and ENJOY LIFE!" 

But God said to Him, "FOOLISH MAN! Tonight your life will be taken from you. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?" 

"This is how it will be for those who store up for themselves and are not rich toward God."  Luke 12:15-21 (NCV)

In this Parable, Jesus talks about a FOOL focusing on EARTHLY RICHES and GREED. He "neglects the state of his SPIRITUAL SOUL".  Later, HE DIES, leaving his WEALTH, without SHARING it with others or with the being "rich toward the Lord."

"Which steps can we take to ensure our priorities align with God's values rather than the worlds?"  (Stories of the Kingdom, Parales of Jesus)

                                       11. THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

This story of the "Rich Man and Lazarus" is the only named character in Jesus' parables. The rich man has a lot of money and Lazarus is POOR, yet HE TRUSTS IN GOD!

"Later, Lazarus died, and was carried in the arms of Abraham to Heaven. The rich man also died  and was buried, he was in much pain....... He called out to Abraham, "Send Lazarus to cool my tongue , I am suffering in this fire." But Abraham said: "Child, remember when you were aliive, you had the good things in life, but bad things happened to Lazarus. Now he is comforted and you are suffering."                                                                                                    Luke 16:22, 24&25 (NCV)

Unlike Lazarus, who was a believer, the rich man did not go to Heaven, but HELL. He pleaded with Abraham to let him go home to tell his brothers the TRUTH. Abraham told the rich man that he had "wasted his days" with his money. He failed to "help the poor". He had been aware of Lazarus' needs  - his poverty and health, but he had refused to help him. This rich man's love for "materialism" and his lacked of a "relationship with God" - FAITH, HUMILITY and REPENTANCE had led his place in hell.

"If someone from the dead goes to my brothers they will REPENT. Abraham replied: "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced if someone rises from the dead." Luke 16:30&31 (MSG)

The rich man realized his mistakes but it was too late. He needed to REPENT and BELEVE when he was alive, by listening to Lazarus, and the Word of God.  He needed to show kindness to share his wealth with the poor. It was too late for his brothers, unless someone else could "communicate the TRUTH to them". 

"As convincing as it may be for someone to come back from the dead to warn others about HELL, GOD'S WORD is the MOST POWERFUL TESTIMONY about JESUS and the after life." Max Lucado   

Do you have friends or family who need to have a relationship with God? Jesus and Word of God (the Holy Scriptures) are the only GOOD NEWS. and you can't keep this to yourself! Look for a way today to share this NEWS OF SALVATION!

"I know that my REDEEMER LIVES, that in the end He will stand upon the earth. Even after my skin will be destroyed, (death). In my flesh, I WILL SEE GOD. I WILL SEE HIM MYSELF. I will see Him with MY VERY OWN EYES. How my heart wants that to happen!" Job 19:25-27 (NCV)

"THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW CENTURY VERSION", 2005, Thomas Nelson

"THE MESSAGE: THE BIBLE IN COMMENTARY LANGUAG", Eugene H Peterson, 2018, Tyndale  House Publishers

"THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL", (2025), Songs About Jesus/Music for Kids/      You Tube

"THE STORY OF THE RICH MAN AND LAZARUS", (2024), The Word Stories/You Tube

"I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVERS" (2023), Keith & Kristyn Getty, Laura Story (Singer); Matt Merker, Matt Papa, Jordan Kanflinn (Composers), Getty Music/BMI

"STORIES OF THE KINGDOM- PARABLES OF JESUS." - (2025), PCPeopleChurch, You Version)

"JUST LIKE JESUS: A Heart Like Jesus - Devotional" , (2002) Max Lucado,               Thomas Nelson