A fool is someone who has little or no judgment or wisdom. A fool can have high well-being and still be a fool. Fools can be healthy non-smokers who exercise, care for their teeth, and have good relationships with their bosses. Fools can even learn new things every day but still be a fool. It makes no difference if you are a fool with well-being or an unhappy fool—you’re still a fool. The question is: are you a fool? Jesus answers that question in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21).
A man approaches Jesus with a legitimate request. Rabbis were often called upon to settle matters of the law. It was the law that the older brother gives the younger brother 1/3 of the inheritance. So, this man says, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus seems to blow this man off by saying, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Now, this was not very nice of Jesus. After all, this man had a right by law to receive his share of the inheritance.
I assure you that Jesus was not being mean by ignoring this man’s request. What Jesus says next reveals what is happening in this man’s life: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” This warning by Jesus teaches us three things about fools.
1. Fools are not aware of the condition of their hearts.
This man’s real problem was not being defrauded of his inheritance by his brother. This man’s real problem was covetousness or greed. This man was hiding his actual heart condition. His genuine heart condition, his real problem was that he was eaten up with greed. Even if he received his inheritance, it would not satisfy him. He would always lust after more.
2. Fools seek their identity in the world.
Many of us think that this parable is just about greed and money, but it goes much deeper than that. This rich man’s life consisted of the abundance of his possessions. It is what defined him. It is what he sought his identity in—his riches. I do not think most of us seek our identity in our riches. However, many seek identity in other things, such as work, children, or spouses. Tim Keller captures the danger of seeking our identity in the world:
An identity not based on God also leads inevitably to deep forms of addiction. When we turn good things into ultimate things, we are, as it were, spiritually addicted. If we take our meaning in life from our family, our work, [sic] our cause, or some achievement other than God, they enslave us. We have to have them.[1]
3. Fools do not have God as their all-consuming treasure.
Having God as our all-consuming treasure is what it means to be rich toward God. It is easy to determine what one treasures in one’s life. What if our lives were like one big reality show, and people were observing every moment? What would they see? They would see what we spend most of our time doing. They would see what we value. They would see what is most important to us. They would also see what, above all, our all-consuming desire in life is. They would see what we treasure. What do you treasure? From where do you get your satisfaction and enjoyment in life? Would you still be able to play if I took all your toys away? Would you still be able to have fun? Would you still have joy?
You may have been asking God for something for years, and He has never given it to you. Did you ever stop to think that God may not be giving it to you because it is not what you need? Instead, what you need is to be honest about your actual heart condition. I know you’re hurting. And Jesus comes along, and he starts poking around where you hurt, uncovering what is there. Why does God do that? Because just like a doctor, He wants to bring true healing to you—the healing that life in his kingdom brings.
Who are you? What defines you? Why are you living? Are you living for Him? You see, God wants it all. He wants all of your heart. He wants to be the center. God wants your wanter. He wants to be the all-consuming desire of your heart. He wants to be your treasure. So, God, in his amazing grace, through the miracle of regeneration, gives us a new heart (Ezek. 36:26-27)—a heart that desires him above all else. When God regenerates us, we are no longer fools in the eyes of Jesus.
[1] Timothy Keller, The Reason for God (New York: Dutton, 2008), 165.
The Established Path of Discipleship 
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