#the rich fool

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”  But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” - Luke 12:13-21 | English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

[smellthecoffe]

Rich Fool

He gazed at his account balance 

grinning from ear to ear

his money had grown 

year upon year

It was so much

it was going to great

spending it all

to ease his pain

It calmed him so

this wealth he’d amassed 

it would fill the emptiness 

until he breathed his last

An excerpt from my book: Waxing Lyrical

Poets United – Money

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[jhallblog]

The Rich Fool

Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 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.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: 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, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I chose to illustrate the rich man as a tree, the barbed wire and thorns growing from its branches is guarding large, ripe fruit. Fruit is often used in the bible as a term for what is produced by any action. Be it spiritual or physical. The Rich Fool is producing wealth and crops, but he is keeping it from his community. Guarding it from its ability to satisfy hunger and needs of those he should be in relationship with. Wealth is meant to be shared, and greed keeps us from loving one another.

[freechristianplays]

I've Just Not Got the Time!

AIM: To encourage people not to be put off taking time to think about the claims of Christianity. The play is inspired by Jesus’ parables on being ready, such as ‘The Rich Fool’ (Luke 12:13-21). I have also included questions that can be used in any follow up discussions after the play.

  ON STAGE ARE TWO CHAIRS. THERE ARE BABY DOLLS ON BOTH OF THEM COVERED BY A SMALL BLANKET, SO THE AUDIENCE CANNOT SEE WHAT THEY ARE, AND UNDERNEATH BOTH CHAIRS ARE A PAIR OF GLASSES. UNDER STEVE’S IS ALSO A NEWSPAPER. LILY COMES ONTO THE STAGE, STANDS IN FRONT OF THE CHAIRS AND ADDRESSES THE AUDIENCE.

  LILY(AS TEEN):  Me, be a Christian, there’s simply no way!

                           Just what do you think all my friends would say?

                           I don’t want to be laughed at, that’s just not cool.

                           I’m a teenager, I don’t want to be known as a fool!

                           I don’t want to be different, I want to fit in:

                           Not hang round in church, singing a hymn.

                           Faith is for old folks, my mates say

                           And there’s no proof God’s up there anyway.

                           What’s that I hear you murmuring there? (TO

                                                                               AUDIENCE)

                           You don’t think I’m being very fair?

                           Have I studied religion so I can be sure?    

                           To be truthful, not much, well not really at all.

                           But I’ve got loads of time yet. I’m only sixteen,

                           It can wait till I’m older; then I’ll be keen.

  STEVE WALKS ON AND STANDS BESIDE LILY. THEY BOTH PICK UP THE DOLLS FROM THE CHAIRS WRAPPING THEM IN THE BLANKETS AND HOLD THEM IN THEIR ARMS AS IF THEY WERE REAL BABIES.

  LILY(AS A MUM): Think about God? I’d like to have time!

                            I’m a mum with other things on my mind.

                            Like feeding the babies and getting some sleep

                            Before I collapse in an exhausted heap!

                            And the house needs a tidy and my toddler wants to                                                                                                          play,      

                            But I do want to explore about faith, one day,

                            ‘Cos I do think there may be something up there.

                            I’ll have time to find out, when I’ve got

                                                                                        less to bear.

                           Perhaps when the kids have grown up and left                                          home,

                           There’ll be more time for God, when we’re all on our

                                                                                                      own.

  STEVE AND LILY SIT DOWN ON THE CHAIRS. THEY PUT THE BABIES AND BLANKETS BACK UNDER THE CHAIRS AND PUT ON THE GLASSES. STEVE PICKS UP THE PAPER AND READS IT.

  LILY(MIDDLE-AGED):You’d like us to come to a meeting with you, (TO

                                                                                           AUDIENCE)

                            To learn more about God and Christianity too?                                         That’s terribly kind, but we’ll have to decline,

                            I really don’t think that we’d have the time.

                            Since the kids have grown up, I’ve been so very

                                                                                                    busy.

                            It’s ridiculous, I know, but I’m in such a tizzy.   

                            I’m seeking promotion to get to the top,

                            And mother’s not well since she had the leg op.

                            When we retire to the villa, the one we’ve just

                                                                                            brought,

                            Well, then I’ll be able to give God some thought.

  STEVE PUTS BACK THE PAPER AND THEY BOTH TAKE THE BLANKETS FROM UNDER THE CHAIRS. LILY WRAPS HERS AROUND HERSELF LIKE A SHAWL AND STEVE PUTS HIS OVER HIS LEGS. THEY PULL DOWN THE GLASSES SO THEY REST LOWER DOWN ON THEIR NOSES.

  LILY(ELDERLY):   We never did move to that villa of ours.             

                             We’d have had just as much chance of getting to

                                                                                                Mars!

                             You see Steve here’s been poorly for many a

                                                                                                   day,

                             He’s got old and forgetful and I can’t get away.   

                             I wonder if God’s looking down on us here.   

                             It would be nice to think so, it would help with

                                                                                                 my fear.

                             What’s that you say? There’s time to find out?

                             I can’t hear well, you’ll just have to shout.

                             Well that’s nice, dears, I’m sure that is true

                             But I’m too old to change now and start thinking

                                                                                       things through.

                             I’m stuck in my ways and I’m not feeling well.

                             And I haven’t the strength to do much, you can tell.

                             I’m so tired now and I have been for days.

                             I’ll just shut my eyes. It’s all such a haze.

  SHE SHUTS HER EYES AND SLUMPS

  STEVE:                Lily, oh Lily I fancy some tea.

                             Lily, oh Lily, won’t you answer me.

                             Lily, oh Lily, oh Lily… 

  HE STARES AT HER AND REALISING SHE IS DEAD, BURIES HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS, SOBBING.

    Follow-Up Questions for Young People

What reasons does the teenage Lily give for not taking time to consider the claims of Christianity? In your experience, how typical is she of young peoples’ attitudes to faith?

What reasons could you give to persuade the teenage Lily that faith is for young people and not just for the old?

What reasons does Lily give for not taking time to think about Christianity as she goes through the later stages of her life? How might having faith have helped her through those different stages?

Are there any things which stop you taking the time to consider whether Christianity is true or, if you are already a Christian, get in the way of you growing in your faith? Share those things if you feel comfortable in doing so.

‘It’s important that you take time to find out about Christianity right now because …….’ How would you complete this sentence?