This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
The Parable of the Rich Fool: (Luke 12:16-21 NIV)
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.
19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”‘
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
So, what does this mean to you today? We have learned a great deal from this parable, but this morning, we will attempt to glean a few more golden nuggets.
1. The Power of Contentment.
— The rich fool’s desire for more led him to make unwise decisions.
— Learning to be content with what we have while still striving for growth is a biblical principle (Philippians 4:11-13). It’s not that God does not want us to make progress (of course He does); it’s just that He wants us to pursue what is NEXT while appreciating and being content with what is NOW!
— Contentment prevents greed and helps us appreciate God’s blessings.
— A heart that’s content is more receptive to God’s voice and direction becuase you are free from things that hinder your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Said another way, when you are tired, frustrated, discontent, disgruntled, and unhappy, not only will it be hard for you to hear God’s voice, but you will also be susceptible to envy, strife, and anger, and you will be open to depression.
— Contentment brings peace, even in times of lack or challenge.
— When you are content, you can have joy on the inside without regard for what is going on external to you.
— Being content is not about having everything but finding joy in what we have.
2. The Role of Stewardship.
— Everything we have is entrusted to us by God; we are merely stewards. We went over this in detail in the parable of the talents.
— The rich fool failed in his role as a steward by not using his wealth for God’s glory. He thought everything was his, and he was only focused on himself.
— Proper stewardship involves using resources wisely and for the benefit of others and the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
— Being a good steward means being accountable to God for every decision.
— Stewardship extends beyond finances to our time, talents, and relationships. It boils down to stewarding your life!
— When you place YOUR LIFE in God’s hands and allow Him to lead, guide, and direct you in all things, there is no limit to the blessings you will enjoy becuase you will be doing God’s work, God’s way, for God’s glory!
3. The Foolishness of the Wisdom of this World.
(1 Cor 3:18,19 NLT)
Paul said, “Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God…”
— The world’s wisdom often contradicts God’s wisdom.
— The rich fool relied on earthly wisdom, which led to his downfall.
— Seeking God’s wisdom in all decisions ensures we’re aligned with His will (James 1:5).
— If you look at it from a worldly point of view, you won’t see anything wrong with what the Rich Fool did. He had more than enough stuff for himself, and he had so much stuff that he wanted to build bigger barns to store his stuff so he could be set for life. The people of this world will see nothing wrong with that. But when you look at what he did from God’s point of view, Godly wisdom points out many errors in the man’s judgment. This is a reminder that God’s wisdom does not align with this world’s wisdom.
— When we lean on our understanding, we miss out on God’s best.
Godly wisdom leads to peace, prosperity, and purpose.
If this man had leaned on God, God would have led him concerning what to do with his riches, and several things could have happened:
— He could have used a portion of his riches to advance God’s purposes.
— He could have used a portion of his riches to be a blessing to the less fortunate.
— He could have put a plan in place to leave an inheritance to his children’s children.
— He would have received the fulfillment of knowing that he was doing God’s will and being a blessing to others.
— And then, with his priorities properly aligned (honoring God, blessing others, and leaving a legacy), God would have blessed him to enjoy the rest and live a fantastic life. But since his focus was just on himself, he lost it all in a moment.
— This is important; there is a lot we can learn here about the wisdom of God and the importance of stewardship.
4. Leaving a Legacy of Righteousness.
— What we leave behind matters. The rich fool left behind only material possessions. We don’t know what happened to his possessions, but we can assume it went to his family.
— This man left behind money, but he failed to leave behind riches that exceed what money can buy.
— Building a legacy of faith, love, and service has eternal significance.
— Our actions today impact future generations; let’s make them count.
— A legacy rooted in Christ leaves an indelible mark.
— It’s not just about what we accumulate but the lives we touch.
— Our true legacy is how we made others feel and the difference we made in their lives.
— Make no mistake, what we do today becomes a seed, and our children and grandchildren will reap the harvest.
— There are many things I am doing today in ministry that the Lord has revealed to me that are a harvest from the seeds my grandmother sowed.
— My grandmother (on my father’s side) had a relationship with the Holy Spirit. One night, in the Dominican Republic, I got up in the middle of the night to pee (I had to piss in a pot), and when I did, I saw my grandmother talking to an angel. She was in her rocking chair talking to an angel, and I was able to see him with my natural eyes.
— My grandmother fed the less fortunate. My grandmother fed the prisoners who were locked up in the prison of my hometown of La Vega, Dominican Republic.
— There have been many moments (when we are feeding the less fortunate, or feeding prisoners in La Vega, or preaching in jail, etc.) when the Holy Spirit has made it clear to me that I am doing what I am doing as an answer to my grandmother’s prayers.
— Please do not underestimate the power of leaving a spiritual legacy. You can leave a legacy of righteousness that money cannot buy. This is not to say that you should not leave a financial inheritance. You should. But there are spiritual things you should leave behind as well that are even more important in God’s Kingdom.
5. The Trap of Complacency.
— The rich fool became complacent, thinking he had many years to relax.
— Complacency can lead to spiritual stagnation.
— We must always be vigilant, seeking growth and drawing closer to God.
— When you walk with God and are led by His Spirit, you can rest and still make progress at the same time. What you don’t want to do is become complacent.
— Complacency blinds us to the needs of others and the call of God.
— Spiritual growth requires continuous effort and reliance on God.
— If you become complacent, then your past achievements will hinder your future blessings. Don’t let this be you!
6. The Essence of True Prosperity.
— Prosperity isn’t just about material wealth; it’s about thriving in every area of life.
— The rich fool was wealthy in earthly things but poor in spiritual things.
— True prosperity encompasses spiritual growth, healthy relationships, peace, and joy.
— Prosperity is about alignment with God’s will and purpose.
— It’s not the abundance of possessions but the abundance of God’s presence.
— True prosperity is having everything you need to fulfill God’s purpose for your life.
— When you get to the end of your life, God is going to want to know if you did what He sent you to this planet to do. If you did, then you were prosperous, and it will not be measured in money, houses, cars, clothes, titles, or fame. Godly prosperity is measured in purpose!
— If you are doing what God called you to do, and you are doing it God’s way, you are prospering now, and you are preparing yourself for the world to come!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I embrace the power of contentment. I am satisfied with what I have, even as I strive for Your next level for me.
I recognize that everything I possess is entrusted to me by You. I am a steward, not an owner.
I commit to using all that I have for Your glory, advancing Your Kingdom, and being a blessing to others.
I reject the wisdom of this world, which often contradicts Your wisdom. I seek Your guidance in every decision.
I am determined to leave a legacy of righteousness, faith, love, and service that will impact generations to come.
I understand that true prosperity is not just about material wealth. It’s about thriving in every area of life, being in alignment with Your will, and experiencing the abundance of Your presence.
I am prospering now, not just in material things, but in purpose, peace, and joy. I am preparing myself for the world to come.
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
