Luke 12:19
Then I will say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!"'
And I will say to myself
This phrase introduces a soliloquy, a moment of introspection where the rich man speaks to his own soul. The Greek word for "myself" here is "psyche," which can also mean "soul" or "life." This reflects a deeper conversation with one's inner being, highlighting the self-centered nature of the rich man's thoughts. In the biblical context, speaking to one's soul often implies a moment of significant decision or realization, yet here it is misguided.

You have plenty of good things laid up for many years
The phrase "plenty of good things" indicates material wealth and abundance. The Greek word "agatha" for "good things" suggests not just material possessions but things perceived as beneficial or desirable. Historically, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's blessing, yet Jesus challenges this notion by showing that spiritual wealth is far more important. The phrase "laid up for many years" reflects a false sense of security and self-reliance, ignoring the transient nature of life and the sovereignty of God over time.

Take it easy
This phrase is a call to rest and relaxation, derived from the Greek "anapauo," meaning to cease from labor or to refresh oneself. It reflects a hedonistic attitude, prioritizing comfort and ease over spiritual vigilance. In the broader scriptural context, true rest is found in God, not in earthly possessions or achievements.

eat, drink, and be merry
This triad of actions—eating, drinking, and being merry—captures the essence of a hedonistic lifestyle focused on immediate gratification. The phrase echoes similar sentiments found in Ecclesiastes and other ancient literature, where the futility of such a life is often highlighted. In the conservative Christian perspective, this lifestyle is contrasted with a life of purpose and service to God, emphasizing that true joy and fulfillment come from a relationship with Him, not from indulgence in worldly pleasures.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Rich Fool
A parable character who represents those who place their trust in material wealth rather than in God. He is a wealthy man who plans to store up his goods for personal enjoyment.

2. Jesus
The speaker of the parable, teaching His disciples and the crowd about the dangers of greed and the importance of being rich toward God.

3. The Barns
Symbolic of earthly wealth and security, representing the rich man's plan to store his surplus grain.

4. The Soul
In the parable, the rich man speaks to his own soul, indicating a focus on self-satisfaction and earthly pleasures.

5. God
The ultimate judge who calls the rich fool to account, reminding him that life is not guaranteed and that earthly wealth is temporary.
Teaching Points
The Illusion of Security
Earthly wealth can create a false sense of security. True security is found in a relationship with God.

The Temporal Nature of Life
Life is uncertain and can end unexpectedly. We should live with an eternal perspective.

The Danger of Self-Indulgence
Focusing on personal pleasure and comfort can lead to spiritual neglect.

Being Rich Toward God
True wealth is measured by our relationship with God and our investment in His kingdom.

The Call to Generosity
Instead of hoarding wealth, believers are called to be generous and to use their resources for God's purposes.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the parable of the rich fool challenge our understanding of security and success in today's society?

2. In what ways can we store up treasures in heaven, and how does this differ from earthly wealth?

3. How can we ensure that our plans and goals align with God's will, especially in light of the uncertainty of life?

4. What practical steps can we take to be "rich toward God" in our daily lives?

5. How does the message of this parable influence our approach to generosity and the use of our resources?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 6:19-21
This passage emphasizes storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, aligning with the message of the parable about the futility of earthly wealth.

James 4:13-15
These verses warn against boasting about tomorrow, reminding believers that life is uncertain and that plans should be made with God's will in mind.

Ecclesiastes 5:10
This scripture highlights the insatiable nature of wealth, echoing the parable's warning against greed.
A Warning Against CovetousnessR.M. Edgar Luke 12:13-21
A Business Man's MistakeC. S. Robinson, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
A Fool Brought to His SensesLuke 12:16-21
A Fool in God's SightJ. T. Davidson, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
A Fool in God's SightDr. Talmage.Luke 12:16-21
A Man's Own Thought About Himself, and God'sH. W. Beecher.Luke 12:16-21
A Scoffer Taken At His WordLuke 12:16-21
A Successful Worldly PolicyW. Baxendale.Luke 12:16-21
A Sudden CallLuke 12:16-21
A Wise FoolW. S. Blackstoek.Luke 12:16-21
An Agonizing QuestionThe United PresbyterianLuke 12:16-21
An Unexpected RequisitionAnon.Luke 12:16-21
And ThenLuke 12:16-21
Business All AbsorbingH. R. Burton.Luke 12:16-21
Christ's Picture of a Worldly LifeW. Smith.Luke 12:16-21
Christ's Portrait of FollyJ. Wells, M. A.Luke 12:16-21
CovetousnessG. R. Leavitt.Luke 12:16-21
Death Cannot be EvadedC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 12:16-21
God and the SensualistR. Cope, LL. D.Luke 12:16-21
God's Interruption of the Rich Fool's SoliloquyThomas Horton, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
How, Then, am I to Become Prepared for the Last Great SceneJ. Parker, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
Material Things Cannot Feed the SoulH. W. Beecher.Luke 12:16-21
Not Ready for DeathLuke 12:16-21
Of the Deceitfulness of RichesF. G. Lisco.Luke 12:16-21
On Worldly-MindednessR. Wardlaw, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
Oriental Ideas of EnjoymentSunday School TimesLuke 12:16-21
Presumption PunishedLuke 12:16-21
Prosperity to be DistributedW. Arnot.Luke 12:16-21
Self the Wrong CentreJ. Parker, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
SelfishnessLuke 12:16-21
Selfishness UnsatisfyingDr. Johnson.Luke 12:16-21
Stewardship not Ownership in PropertySunday School TimesLuke 12:16-21
The Character and End of a SensualistTheological Sketch-bookLuke 12:16-21
The Christian's TreasureBishop Hopkins.Luke 12:16-21
The Folly of Laying Up Earthly RichesVan Doren.Luke 12:16-21
The Folly of the Worldly ManJohn M'Lean.Luke 12:16-21
The Folly of Worldly MenB. Keach.Luke 12:16-21
The Foolish Farmer -- ALuke 12:16-21
The Foolish Rich ManW. M. Taylor, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
The Heart with the TreasureLuke 12:16-21
The Insane Rich ManRichard Fuller, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
The Last NightDr. Talmage.Luke 12:16-21
The Method of Reserving All for Self is as Unsuccessful as it is UnamiableW. Arnot.Luke 12:16-21
The Rich FoolAnon.Luke 12:16-21
The Rich FoolThe Preachers' TreasuryLuke 12:16-21
The Rich FoolJ. Burns, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
The Rich FoolR. Winterbotham, M. A.Luke 12:16-21
The Rich FoolE. Blencowe, M. A.Luke 12:16-21
The Rich FoolD. Moore, M. A.Luke 12:16-21
The Rich FoolH. Melvill, B. D.Luke 12:16-21
The Rich FoolPrincipal Grant.Luke 12:16-21
The Rich Man -- Where Right and Where WrongHomiletic ReviewLuke 12:16-21
The Rich WorldlingJ. Burns, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
The Sinner SummonedC. Girdlestone, M. A.Luke 12:16-21
The Soul RequiredVan Doren.Luke 12:16-21
The True RichesW. M. Taylor, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
The Uncertainty of Earthly ThingsJohn M'Lean.Luke 12:16-21
This NightJ. Parker, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
Thou FoolJ. Parker, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
To-Night I Shall Want YouJ. Parker, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
Treasure MisplacedBishop Reynolds.Luke 12:16-21
Unsanctified RichesExpository OutlinesLuke 12:16-21
Unsanctified RichesThe Preachers' TreasuryLuke 12:16-21
Unsanctified RichesJ. Parsons.Luke 12:16-21
Whose Shall Those Things be Which Thou Hast Provided?W. M. Taylor, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
Worldly Things to be Used GratefullyJ. Parker, D. D.Luke 12:16-21
People
Jesus, Peter, Solomon
Places
Road to Jerusalem
Topics
Abundance, Amount, Ample, Drink, Ease, Easy, Eat, Enjoy, Goods, Happy, Hast, Laid, Merry, Myself, Plenty, Possessions, Repose, Rest, Resting, Soul, Store, Thyself, Wine
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 12:19

     5399   luxury
     5810   complacency
     5874   happiness
     8484   spiritual warfare, enemies

Luke 12:13-19

     8779   materialism, nature of

Luke 12:13-21

     4456   grain
     5939   satisfaction
     8809   riches

Luke 12:15-20

     4966   present, the
     8354   trustworthiness

Luke 12:15-21

     5224   barn
     5871   greed, response to

Luke 12:15-31

     5967   thrift

Luke 12:16-19

     5940   searching
     6701   peace, search for

Luke 12:16-20

     4438   eating
     5776   achievement
     5943   self-deception
     6186   evil scheming

Luke 12:16-21

     2426   gospel, responses
     4903   time
     5511   safety
     6182   ignorance, human situation
     8211   commitment, to world

Luke 12:16-31

     5503   rich, the

Luke 12:18-19

     5716   middle age

Luke 12:18-20

     5845   emptiness
     5916   pessimism

Luke 12:18-21

     5850   excess
     8821   self-indulgence

Luke 12:19-20

     5856   extravagance
     5866   gluttony

Library
October 23 Morning
A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.--LUKE 12:15. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.--Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.--Godliness with contentment is great gain. Having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor,
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 29 Morning
Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.--MATT. 25:34. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.--Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?--Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. The Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 26 Morning
The kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods . . . to every man according to his several ability.--MATT. 25:14,15. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey? All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.--As every man hath received the gift,
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 14. "But God" (Luke xii. 20).
"But God" (Luke xii. 20). What else do we really need? What else is He trying to make us understand? The religion of the Bible is wholly supernatural. The one resource of faith has always been the living God, and Him alone. The children of Israel were utterly dependent upon Jehovah as they marched through the wilderness, and the one reason their foes feared them and hastened to submit themselves was that they recognized among them the shout of a King, and the presence of One compared with whom all
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Stillness in Storm
'... Neither be ye of doubtful mind.'--LUKE xii. 29. I think that these words convey no very definite idea to most readers. The thing forbidden is not very sharply defined by the expression which our translators have employed, but the original term is very picturesque and precise. The word originally means 'to be elevated, to be raised as a meteor,' and comes by degrees to mean to be raised in one special way--namely, as a boat is tossed by a tough sea. So there is a picture in this prohibition which
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Servant-Lord
Verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth, and serve them.--LUKE xii. 37. No one would have dared to say that except Jesus Christ. For surely, manifold and wonderful as are the glimpses that we get in the New Testament of the relation of perfect souls in heaven to Him, none of them pierces deeper, rises higher, and speaks more boundless blessing, than such words as these. Well might Christ think it necessary to preface them with the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Fire on Earth
'I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled!'--LUKE xii. 49. We have here one of the rare glimpses which our Lord gives us into His inmost heart, His thought of His mission, and His feelings about it. If familiarity had not weakened the impression, and dulled the edge, of these words, how startling they would seem to us! 'I am come'--then, He was, before He came, and He came by His own voluntary act. A Jewish peasant says that He is going to set the world on fire-and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Rich Fool
'And one of the company said unto Him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14. And He said unto him, Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you? 15. And He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16. And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Anxious About Earth, or Earnest About the Kingdom
'And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25. And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26. If ye then be not able to do that thing
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Equipment of the Servants
'Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36. And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord.'--Luke xii. 35, 36. These words ought to stir us like the sound of a trumpet. But, by long familiarity, they drop upon dull ears, and scarcely produce any effect. The picture that they suggest, as an emblem of the Christian state, is a striking one. It is midnight, a great house is without its master, the lord of the palace is absent, but expected back, the servants are busy in
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Servants and Stewards Here and Hereafter
'Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord, when He cometh, shall find watching: Verily I shall say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when He cometh, shall find so doing. 44. Of a truth I say unto you, that He will make him ruler over all that he hath. --LUKE xii. 37, 43, and 44. You will, of course, observe that these two passages are strictly parallel in form. Our Lord evidently intends
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

October the Nineteenth Ready!
"Let your loins be girded about." --LUKE xii. 35-40. Loose garments can be very troublesome. An Oriental robe, if left ungirdled, entangles the feet, or is caught by the wind and hinders one's goings. And therefore the wearer binds the loose attire together with a girdle, and makes it firm and compact about his body. And loose principles can be more dangerous than loose garments. Indefinite opinions, caught by the passing wind of popular caprice, are both a peril and a burden. Many people go through
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

True Harvest Joy.
TEXT: LUKE xii. 16-21. TO-DAY the harvest thanksgiving is celebrated through out the land, and it is most fitting that it should be with all of us a day of great and joyful giving of thanks. Although there are but few among the masses of people crowded together in this as in other great cities, who have any direct share in this great business of agriculture, yet we are all aware that it is the prime source of our common prosperity; indeed, I may say, the first condition of the development of our
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 15, "And He Said unto Them, Take Heed, and Keep Yourselves from all Covetousness. "
1. I doubt not but that ye who fear God, do hear His word with awe, and execute it with cheerfulness; that what He hath promised, ye may at present hope for, hereafter receive. We have just now heard the Lord Christ Jesus, the Son of God, giving us a precept. The Truth, who neither deceiveth, nor is deceived, hath given us a precept; let us hear, fear, beware. What is this precept then: "I say unto you, Beware of all covetousness"? [3392] What is, "of all covetousness"? What is, "of all"? Why did
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 35, "Let Your Loins be Girded About, and Your Lamps Burning; and be Ye Yourselves Like," Etc. And
1. Our Lord Jesus Christ both came to men, and went away from men, and is to come to men. And yet He was here when He came, nor did He depart when He went away, and He is to come to them to whom He said, "Lo, I am with you, even unto the end of the world." [3417] According to the "form of a servant" then, which He took for our sakes, was He born at a certain time, and was slain, and rose again, and now "dieth no more, neither shall death have any more dominion over Him;" [3418] but according to His
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xii. 56, 58, "Ye Know How to Interpret the Face of the Earth and the Heaven," Etc. ; and Of
1. We have heard the Gospel, and in it the Lord reproving those who knew how to discern the face of the sky, and know not how to discover the time of faith, the kingdom of heaven which is at hand. Now this He said to the Jews; but His words reach even unto us. Now the Lord Jesus Christ Himself began the preaching of His Gospel in this way; "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." [3431] In like manner too John the Baptist and His forerunner began thus; "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On Worldly Folly
"But God said unto him, Thou fool!" Luke 12:20. But one of these fools is commonly wiser in his own eyes "than seven men that can render a reason." If it were possible for a Christian, for one that has the mind which was in Christ, to despise any one, he would cordially despise those who suppose "they are the men, and wisdom shall die with them." You may see one of these, painted to the life, in the verses preceding the text. "The ground of a certain rich man," says our blessed Lord, "brought forth
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

On Divine Providence
"Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." Luke 12:7. 1. The doctrine of divine providence has been received by wise men in all ages. It was believed by many of the eminent Heathens, not only philosophers, but orators and poets. Innumerable are the testimonies concerning it which are scattered up and down in their writings; agreeable to that well-knowing saying in Cicero, Deorum moderamine cuncta geri: "That all things, all events in this world, are under the management of God." We might
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Use of Fear in Religion.
PROVERBS ix. 10.--"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Luke xii. 4, 5.--"And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him." The place which the feeling of fear ought to hold in the religious experience of mankind is variously assigned. Theories of religion are continually passing
William G.T. Shedd—Sermons to the Natural Man

Darkness Before the Dawn
"Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether."--SONG OF SOLOMON 2:17. THE SPOUSE SINGS, "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away," so that the beloved of the Lord may be in the dark. It may be night with her who has a place in the heart of the Well-beloved. A child of God, who is a child of light, may be for a while in darkness; first, darkness comparatively, as compared with the light he has some times
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 42: 1896

Hypocrisy
I am sure that every true child of God will stand at times in doubt of himself, and his fear will probably take the shape of a suspicion concerning his own state. He that never doubted of his state, He may--perhaps he may--too late. The Christian, however, does not belong to that class. He will at times begin to be terribly alarmed, lest, after all, his godliness should be but seeming, and his profession an empty vanity. He who is true will sometimes suspect himself of falsehood, while he who is
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Our Requests Made Known unto God
OUR REQUESTS MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD ". . . Let your requests be made known unto God." -- Phil. 4:6. Paul, the pattern saint, would have us see the value of revealing our needs to God in prayer. We must not presume that the things required to sustain life will be granted without making our requests known unto God. Our requirements on earth and God's resources in heaven are meant for each other. If we ask, we shall receive. When we fail to ask, we fail to receive. The Word declares, "Ye have not, because
T. M. Anderson—Prayer Availeth Much

Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and his Approaching Passion.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke XII. 1-59. ^c 1 In the meantime [that is, while these things were occurring in the Pharisee's house], when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another [in their eagerness to get near enough to Jesus to see and hear] , he began to say unto his disciples first of all [that is, as the first or most appropriate lesson], Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [This admonition is the key to the understanding
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Christianity Misunderstood by Men of Science.
Attitude of Men of Science to Religions in General--What Religion is, and What is its Significance for the Life of Humanity-- Three Conceptions of Life--Christian Religion the Expression of the Divine Conception of Life--Misinterpretation of Christianity by Men of Science, who Study it in its External Manifestations Due to their Criticising it from Standpoint of Social Conception of Life--Opinion, Resulting from this Misinterpretation, that Christ's Moral Teaching is Exaggerated and Cannot be put
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you

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