The Rich Fool & The Great Banquet

The “Rich Fool” parable is offered in response to a simple request – “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me”.

Jesus response is rather rough (he does not even respond to the man by name or title but “Man” or as Ken Bailey would suggest “Old Man”.) Jesus did not let others set the agenda. He did care a great deal about justice for the outcast, the poor, the lame – but in this request he senses only greed. An inheritance is not something we earn – it is a gift. Jesus first provides a statement of wisdom then a parable then restates the principle.

Wisdom – “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Jesus then tells the story of the rich farmer who has a bumper crop and decides to expand his storage facilities so he will have much for many years – “Take life easy: eat, drink, and be merry”.

But God says – “your assumptions are wrong – tonight your life will be demanded of you.”

Wisdom 2 – “This is how it will be for any one who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Isn’t the rich man situation what everyone wants? Win the lottery, have some big years in the stock market, a golden parachute, get an early retirement? Is it the money the problem, or is the problem something else?

Jesus was challenging his audience to think of the source of the bounty –

Did the farmer cause the exceptional yield?
Was his talent of his own making?

I have often thought how I might have faired had I been born in another era, another place, or with different parents or different health. None of those critical items were of my making. I could have been born a peasant in China under Mao, a serf in the Middle Ages, an untouchable in India, or a Palestinian in the 20^th century.

Jesus taught us that life, and all we have is not “ours” in the ultimate sense – but a gift to be used.

The questions we must deal with are “What does life consist of if it is not possessions?” and “How do we become rich toward God?”

Our culture offers suggestions- pushing us to think like the rich farmer:

The bumper sticker says “He who dies with the most toys wins”.

The marketing agency attempts to convince us that we need more things.

Our investment advisor says we need to save to insure that our funds will not run out.

Materialism is never satisfied – it always wants “more”.

Did you spend time thinking about how much is enough? How much you need? That is a lot harder question than asking – What do you want? If I have much more than I need why should I want more?

Yet our own observations – if we have lived awhile – prove that wealth and the things wealth buys do not insure a life that is more joyful, more satisfying, or more complete? I know people with immense wealth that struggle with issues related to that wealth – keeping it, spending it, living the life it encourages. If wealth does not make a life – then what does? Must we be in poverty to become “rich toward God”?

A former neighbor retired in his early 50s – a high energy type, with no need to work. After a few months he ran out of home projects, and he tired of just playing golf. A couple of years later, as I was approaching retirement, I asked him for his advice on retirement living - Gary’s advice was – “spend a couple of days a week doing physical labor, a couple doing mental work, and at least a day a week doing work for others”. He was helping build their new church, teaching a Sunday School class and actively investing. He had found joy and purpose in living.

Dr. R.J. Kendall pointed out this scripture that really captures “becoming rich toward God”.

ITimothy 6:17 – Command those that are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Jesus said: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these thing will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33)

Success per Webster is: “a favorable or desired outcome”, or “the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence”. Jesus points us to the first definition.

Did you write down your definition of “Success” for your life for a “favorable outcome”?

What actions do you and I need to take “to lay up treasures for the coming age”. It is not what we say but what we do? Where do I invest my time, my resources? My energy? If I asked my best friend to describe the focus of my life, what would he/she say? What would my children say?

Our reaction to unexpected or unearned funds is particularly revealing. What do we do with the surprise inheritance, the property that has exploded in value, the stock that has tripled.

Do we choose to treat our selves richly, or do we look for new and more generous ways to give to the needs of others?

Who is your consultant in such a situation? The Rich Fool consulted himself only. Poor choice. We need another perspective – God, a trusted friend, others that have no stake in the choice.

At the end of the parable, Jesus asks – “Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” This is a question for all of us, whether we are rich or not – for we will leave behind everything of earthly value. Can we do that in a way that blessings continue, or will it only be the basis for another “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me”. I hope you considered this issue in your group. Independent of the size of your earthly estate, your choice has the potential for good and for trouble.

We as members at St. Andrews have been blessed by the amazing gifts of some of our members.

Lloyd Ogilvie writes “God is the God of the successful. When we give him our lives, relinquish the control of our possessions, seek His will in all things, we will succeed.

The Great Banquet

In Luke 14, Jesus has just told the gathering at the Pharisee home “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind ------and you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

One at the table says “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God”.

Sounds non-threatening to us. But Dr. Kenneth Bailey says it was really a trap laid for Jesus.

Isaiah, in chapter 25:6 had written (in Hebrew) of a feast “for all peoples”, but over the following 600 years, the Aramaic translations had moved to the exclusion, then the punishment, of the Gentiles. The writings of the Essenes of Jesus era even excluded Jews that “had any physical blemish” – such as the blind and lame”. Judaism was becoming increasing selective and reserved for the few.

(Note: In Luke 13:29 Jesus had said: “People will come from the east and the west, the north and the south and will take their place at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first and first who will be last.” He has expanded the feast invitation list.)

Jesus responds to the comment with the parable: (And I use Dr. Kenneth Bailey comments)

People are invited to a feast, and they have accepted. When the feast is ready, they ask to be excused using clearly phony and even insulting reasons.

· The first says he must go and see a field he has bought. Bailey says that is like one of us buying a house using the internet without having seen the house. Impossible.

· The second must test his 5 yoke of oxen – Bailey says they are never bought without first being tested extensively. Would you buy 5 used cars without having checked them out?

· And the new wife – Bailey says that a man at that time would not even mention women in his house, and they would certainly not influence a daytime feast. (Might be an excuse today :-))

The owner, angry and insulted orders his servant to bring in the poor, crippled, blind and lame. Then to go to the roads and lanes (strangers) and make them come in.

Some in Christianity’s history have used these last words to justify the forced baptism of non-believers under threat of death. Bailey says the story needed these words since strangers and outcasts are just not invited to feasts and must be convinced that the offer is real. Grace is surprising and difficult to accept.

Bailey believes that the last sentence of the parable – “I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet” is directed at his immediate audience. The guest that day had no idea they were eating with the one who was to rule the kingdom of God and had already rejected his invitation.

We do not think of ourselves as “chosen” in the same way that the Jews did, but we have been invited! Have we accepted the invitation? Do we now offer a list of excuses? Or delays?

If Jesus’ feast on this earth is the celebration of communion in worship, are we unable to come because of petty problems? Do we fail to respond to His invitation to serve? Do we offer excuses for why the changes we need in our lives, relationships, or attitudes never happen?

Thank you God, that we have been invited to the feast in your kingdom. Forgive us our feeble excuses. We accept Your invitation gladly. Amen

The Rich Fool & The Great Banquet

The Great Banquet

Suggested Discussion Questions

The Rich Fool

The Great Banquet

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