Luke 12:21

My Notes

What Does Luke 12:21 Mean?

"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." Jesus concludes the parable of the rich fool (verses 16-20) with the APPLICATION: this is what happens when you store treasure for YOURSELF and aren't rich TOWARD GOD. The two conditions are contrasted — treasure for self AND poverty toward God. The man who has barns full and a soul empty. The portfolio that's diversified and the spirit that's bankrupt.

The phrase "layeth up treasure for himself" (ho thēsaurizōn heautō — the one treasuring/storing for himself) identifies the sin as SELF-DIRECTED accumulation: the treasuring isn't wrong. The 'for himself' is what makes it wrong. The storing up is aimed at the SELF — personal security, private comfort, individual protection. The treasure has one beneficiary: me. The accumulation serves one person: the accumulator.

The "not rich toward God" (mē eis theon ploutōn — not being rich toward/into God) identifies the DEFICIENCY: the man is rich toward himself and POOR toward God. The two are connected — the riches stored for self are the riches NOT invested toward God. The self-directed storing produces the God-directed poverty. You can't fill your barns AND be rich toward God if the filling is all for you.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Are you laying up treasure for yourself or investing toward God — and which 'rich' are you?
• 2.What does being materially rich AND spiritually poor at the same time look like?
• 3.How does the direction of the investment (toward self or toward God) determine the kind of wealth you have?
• 4.What treasure stored for yourself could be redirected toward God?

Devotional

Rich toward yourself. Poor toward God. That's the rich fool's epitaph — barns overflowing, soul bankrupt. The treasure accumulated for the self is the treasure not invested toward God. The fuller the barns, the emptier the spirit.

The 'layeth up treasure for himself' makes the self the RECIPIENT of all the accumulation: the storing isn't condemned. The DIRECTION is. The treasure goes to the self — to personal comfort, to private security, to individual protection against future need. The accumulation is a circle: earned by self, stored by self, enjoyed by self. Nobody else benefits. The circle closes around one person.

The 'not rich toward God' is the POVERTY that coexists with the WEALTH: the man is simultaneously the richest person in the parable (barns full, goods stored, years of ease secured) AND the poorest person before God (his soul is required TONIGHT, verse 20). The material richness and the spiritual poverty occupy the same life. The barns are full. The account with God is empty.

The 'toward God' (eis theon — into God, toward God, in the direction of God) makes the investment DIRECTIONAL: being rich toward God means investing in God's direction — generosity, kingdom work, service to others, obedience that costs something. The riches that are stored for self could be invested toward God. The choice of direction is the choice between the two kinds of richness — and the rich fool chose wrong.

Are you laying up treasure for yourself — or investing it toward God? And which kind of rich are you?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture