Bigger Barns, Bigger Questions
Today I read Luke 12, and one part that caught my attention was the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13–21, NLT). In the story, a man asks Jesus to settle a dispute about an inheritance, and instead of giving a direct answer, Jesus warns about greed: “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” (Luke 12:15, NLT). He then tells the parable of a wealthy farmer whose land produces more crops than he can store. The farmer decides to tear down his barns and build bigger ones, thinking he has secured his future. But that very night his life ends, and all his careful planning suddenly seems meaningless.
What caught me is not just the moral about greed, but the tension between preparation and security. On the surface, the farmer’s actions sound practical. Who wouldn’t want to save resources for the future, to build a safety net, to prepare for years ahead? Yet the story flips that instinct on its head. It challenges the assumption that having enough stored away guarantees peace of mind or even guarantees life itself.
Our Modern Barns
Reading this made me think about how we define security today. For many, it’s about financial stability—retirement accounts, investments, property. For others, it might be about reputation, career achievements, or even digital “storage” like followers and content. These forms of wealth aren’t just about having things; they’re about creating a sense of control in a world that often feels unpredictable. But this story seems to press against the idea that control is ever really within reach.
I also notice how abrupt the ending is: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’” (Luke 12:20, NLT). There’s no time for the farmer to reconsider, no chance to shift priorities. It’s a reminder of how sudden interruptions—illness, accidents, economic downturns—can upend even the most carefully laid plans. Maybe what feels like security is more fragile than we want to admit.
Wealth Without a Price Tag
What I find most interesting is that the parable doesn’t offer a simple replacement plan. It doesn’t say, “Don’t save, do this instead.” Instead, it leaves the question open about what truly counts as wealth. The text ends with: “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:21, NLT). Even without approaching this from faith, there’s still a question worth wrestling with: if material accumulation isn’t the measure of a meaningful life, then what is?
For some, the answer might be relationships, experiences, or contributions to community. For others, it could be creativity, knowledge, or a sense of purpose in work. The parable leaves space for us to wrestle with those definitions. It makes me wonder how often we confuse preparation with fulfillment, or storage with meaning. Maybe the harder work isn’t building bigger barns but deciding what, exactly, is worth storing up in the first place.