DATE: Saturday 11 July 2026
TOPIC: “TAKING THE CREDIT”
TEXT: Luke 12:16-21
MEMORY VERSE: “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” – Luke 16:21.
Jesus taught vital life lessons through parables. One of such is the parable of the Rich Fool. The parable describes a man who had so many things, but lacked wisdom, sense of acknowledgment of God and appreciation towards God. The things he lacked were the very reasons he was so described as the ‘rich fool’. He had the ability to think and project into the future, he worked hard, he had resources – perhaps some staff or workers, large expanse of arable land for farming, fruitful crops, just to mention a few. The things he lacked led to his ruin.
We must learn to acknowledge God as our Source and give him glory. We must never think that it is by our power that we accomplish anything even when we have worked hard to earn it. This is because there are others who worked as hard or harder than we did, but did not get the kind of results that we have. It is God who teaches us to profit and get wealth. (Deut. 8:18)
Our efforts only materialize into success when God makes it so. Looking at the parable again, let us examine the things that the rich fool took for granted:
He took for granted the rain that wet his soil for growth.
The power of fruitfulness embedded in the seeds that were planted. (It is not automatic that all seeds planted, grow. Some die in the earth without a clear explanation)
Physical strength and sound health to work
The sound mind to think and plan or produce results.
Protection from sudden disasters that can ruin the crops during the planting or cropping season such as pestilence or epidemic. Just to mention a few.
These things listed were not things that were solely under the control of anyone, not even the best of farmers. However, God took care of these to make the bumper harvest possible, but there was no sign that the farmer acknowledged God’s part by a sense of appreciation. He stole the glory all for himself. He said, “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’” Luke 12:19. This selfish statement made him a big fool. Learn to acknowledge God. Give him the glory due to his name. Do not be a fool.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, success and achievement will not deceive me or get to my head. Help me to always see you as my Source no matter how high you lift me in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.