A Fool Is Full of Himself

When we read through the book of Luke chapter twelve, we encounter the story of a wealthy and successful man whom Jesus ultimately called a fool.

How? Why so?

The tragedy of the rich fool was not that he was rich. Nowhere in scripture does it suggest that prosperity itself is foolishness. His foolishness was rather revealed in the language of his heart.

Notice his words:

"I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul..."

— Luke 12:18-19 NKJV

Everything revolved around himself. His plans were self-conceived, self-directed, and self-celebrated. There was no consideration of God, no dependence on God, and no inquiry into the purpose for which God had blessed him.

He had become the captain of his own destiny and the architect of his own future. Yet the future he so carefully planned for was one over which he had no control.

A fool is so full of himself, that there is no room for Wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

— Proverbs 9:10 ESV

Many believers unknowingly walk the same path. Some have made wealth their chief pursuit because they have tasted the bitterness of lack. Others have made influence and relevance their pursuit because they have experienced insignificance. And there are others who chase comfort because they have known suffering.

You see, whenever our pain becomes the lens through which we define success, we risk building a life that God never authored.

The fool in Luke 12 was not condemned because he had an abundant harvest; he was condemned because he lived abundantly for himself.

Pain has a way of convincing us that if we can only obtain the thing we lacked, then our lives will finally have meaning. However, meaning is not found in obtaining what we lacked, it is found in discovering why we were created.

Many people spend their entire lives trying to heal yesterday's wounds with today's accomplishments. They achieve the wealth, status, education, influence, or recognition they once dreamed of, only to discover that the soul still remains unsatisfied.

This is because purpose is not found in possession.

And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.'

— Luke 12:15 NKJV

A man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses because a man's life was never designed to be measured by possessions. Life is measured by fellowship with God, obedience to His will, and faithfulness to His assignment.

The believer must therefore be careful not to develop the heart of a fool.

A fool is not merely one who lacks intelligence; a fool is one who lives as though God is unnecessary. A fool may be educated, successful, strategic, disciplined, and admired by many, yet be utterly disconnected from the purpose of God.

The question is not whether your plans are great, but rather, whether they are God's. It is not whether you are succeeding, but whether your success is leading you toward the will of God or away from it.

One day, every ambition, every title, every account balance, and every earthly achievement will be left behind. What will remain is whether we walked with God and fulfilled His purpose for our lives.

Therefore, do not allow poverty to define your vision, nor allow lack become your teacher. Let Christ define your vision, let His Word shape your ambitions and allow His purpose become your pursuit.

For the greatest tragedy is not to die poor. The greatest tragedy is to gain everything you wanted and discover that you missed that which God wanted.

Hear how our Lord Jesus sums it all up:

"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

— Luke 12:21 NLT