But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:20-21
In Luke 12:16–21, Jesus tells a sobering parable about a wealthy man who had it all—abundant harvests, overflowing barns, and grand plans for a life of ease. But just as he says to himself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years.
Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry,” God calls him a fool. That very night, his life is taken from him, and all his wealth counts for nothing. The parable ends with this powerful truth: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
It’s easy in today’s world to chase security through possessions. We work hard, save wisely, and plan ahead—none of which is inherently wrong. But Jesus reminds us that the greatest danger is not poverty or instability, but spiritual forgetfulness. When our plans leave God out of the picture, we risk building a life that may look successful on the outside but is spiritually bankrupt.
The rich man’s mistake wasn’t that he was wealthy. His error was believing that his wealth was the source of his security. He measured his life by how full his barns were, rather than how full his heart was toward God. He planned for many years of comfort, but didn’t consider the uncertainty of life—or the certainty of death.
Jesus invites us to a different kind of richness: being “rich toward God.”
This means investing in things that last—relationships, generosity, worship, service, and faith. It means aligning our hearts with eternal values rather than temporary gains. While the world encourages us to accumulate, Jesus encourages us to give. While the world says “store up,” Jesus says “pour out.”
This parable is not a call to fear, but to freedom. When we release our grip on the things of this world, we have the opportunity to discover a deeper joy and a greater purpose. As we begin to see life through the lens of our faith in Jesus, we recognize the truth that our lives are ultimately in God’s hands.
As we prepare for worship this Sunday, I invite you to join me in asking some key questions: Are we building bigger barns, or bigger hearts? Are we storing up for ourselves, or storing up treasures in heaven? Is there anything standing in the way of surrendering all to God?
I look forward to worshipping with you.
Peace,
Pastor Kevin