Being Rich toward God

The destiny of people who put all their trust in their earthly possessions without regard to matters that decide their eternal destiny is miserable. Here, Jesus defines real wealth.

A man approached Jesus to advise his brother to divide the property with him. In ancient times, the Rabbis usually mediated family disputes, such as property division and marriage issues. The man’s request was not unusual, but Jesus turned it into an opportunity to teach the real worth of possessions.

Refusing to mediate the dispute, Jesus told the well-known parable, “Rich Fool.” The farmer was smart enough to cultivate the land for a good harvest. Jesus did not condemn his industrious spirit or wisdom to plan—building new barns and storing the food for many years to come.

His mistake was ignoring God in his plans. He did not know that the “many years” (Luke 12:19) he planned for were not in his control. He ignored the author of life, who decides how long we live.

The subtle definition of being “rich toward God,” which is the story's moral, is giving God, the universe's creator, his due place in all we do. When Jesus narrated the parable, the man in the crowd realised the truth—what matters is not having more but having God in our lives, thoughts, and deeds and having him at the centre of our existence.

True wealth isn’t in what we keep—but in who we centre. Let God be the anchor, not the afterthought.