The Rich Fool, the Tower Builder, and the King Who Went to War

THE RICH FOOL

 

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.”

 

Luke 12:16-21

Possible Discussion Questions:

  1. What was the context of this parable? How would Jesus have felt with this question?
  2. What was the attitude of the rich man towards wealth? What should it have been?
  3. Is wealth evil?
  4. What is greed?
  5. What is the purpose of life?
  6. What does it mean to be rich toward God?

 

 

 

THE TOWER BUILDER AND THE KING WHO WENT TO WAR

 

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.” 

Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 

 

Luke 14:28-32

 

Possible Discussion Questions:

  1. What is the context of Jesus speaking these parables?
  2. Who might be the tower builder? What might be the tower? Why was it ridiculous?
  3. What might be the war? Who the king?
  4. What is the cost of true discipleship? Of half-discipleship?