The Rich Fool
A rich man's land produces a huge harvest. He plans to build bigger barns and enjoy his wealth—but God tells him his life will end that very night.
Luke 12:13-21
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The Story
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'
Jesus replied, 'Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?' Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'
And he told them this parable: 'The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, "What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops."
Then he said, "This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I'll say to myself, 'You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.'"
But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"
This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.'
The Foolish Rich Man
Kids Version
Jesus warned people about being greedy. He told this story:
A rich farmer had a HUGE harvest! His barns were overflowing with grain. He had a problem—a good problem, he thought.
'What am I going to do with all this stuff?' he wondered.
'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build BIGGER ones! Then I'll store ALL my grain and everything I own. And I'll say to myself: "You've got it made! You have enough stuff to last for YEARS! Time to relax! Eat! Drink! Party!"'
The rich man thought he had everything figured out. He was going to enjoy his riches for a long, long time.
But that night, God spoke to him:
'You FOOL! Tonight you're going to DIE. Then who gets all your stuff?'
The rich man had spent his whole life collecting THINGS. But he forgot about what really matters. He wasn't 'rich toward God'—he never thought about loving God or helping others.
Now his life was over. And ALL those things? They meant NOTHING.
Jesus said this is what happens when people care more about stuff than about God.
Money and things aren't bad. But they can't save us. They don't last forever. Only the things we do for GOD and for OTHERS last forever.
Are you 'rich toward God'?
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Characters in This Story
Scripture — Luke 12:13-21 (KJV)
13And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15And 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.
16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? thy: Gr. do they require thy soul
21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Memory Verse
“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.”
— Luke 12:13 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “The Rich Fool” in the Bible?
A rich man's land produces a huge harvest. He plans to build bigger barns and enjoy his wealth—but God tells him his life will end that very night. This story is found in Luke 12:13-21.
Where is “The Rich Fool” found in the Bible?
“The Rich Fool” is found in Luke 12:13-21, in the book of Luke.
What can children learn from “The Rich Fool”?
This story teaches children about Greed, True riches, Life is short, Trusting God. A rich farmer had SO much stuff that he needed bigger barns! He thought he could relax forever. But God said, 'Tonight you're going to die. Then whose stuff will it be?'