The Parable of the Rich Fool begins with an interruption. A man in the crowd called out, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me" (Luke 12:13). Jesus refused to be drawn into the dispute and instead issued a warning: "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15). Then He told the parable. A certain rich man had a bumper crop — so abundant his existing barns could not hold it. He debated within himself: "What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?" His solution: "I will pull down my barns and build greater... 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'" (Luke 12:18-19). Notice how self-absorbed the monologue is: "I... I... I... my... my... my... my... my." Not a single mention of others, the poor, God, or gratitude. Then comes the verdict: "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 12:20-21). The man was not a fool because He was rich, or because He saved, or because He planned. He was a fool because He planned His life as though God did not exist, and He measured His security by His possessions rather than His relationship with God. He built bigger barns for a soul that would not be His to enjoy them. Every generation of Christians must reckon with this parable. "Rich toward God" is the standard by which every financial decision is ultimately measured.