Parable
Parable Of The Rich Fool Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped parable prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Lord, You told about a man with full barns and a five-year plan. That same night You said, 'This very night Your soul is required of You.' He was not a cheat. He was a good farmer. He did what any smart grown-up would do — he built bigger barns to hold his crops. His mistake was not the barn. It was thinking he would be alive at sunrise to enjoy it.
Free me from the quiet lie that I will have years and years to get my life right later. My calendar already has Monday's meetings. I act like those meetings are a sure thing. They are not sure. None of my time is sure.
Help me be rich toward You today. Make me generous. Make me prayerful. Help me be present at the dinner table. Help me forgive while there is still light. If my barn needs to be empty so my soul can be full, then empty it. I would rather have a thin pantry and a settled account with You.
Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
“But God said to him, ‘You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared—whose will they be?’
Luke 12:20
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray parable of the rich fool prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in Luke 12:20. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.