Why Jesus Called A Man A Fool

Written in my theology course at Saint Mary's College.    

     Martin Luther King Jr on August 27^th 1967 made a speech that reflected the system of white supremacy and inequality in the United States. He’s speech was truthful, just and righteous. Rich men forget how they became rich. Martin Luther King realizes three distinct factors in the parable from the gospel of Luke. The foolish man doesn’t realize with his surplus of crops he could give back to the individuals he depended on. Jesus calls this man a fool because he doesn’t realize he has depended on God or the opportunity God has given him to have such a rich supply of crops. King references that the foolish man thinks “he is the creator of the seasons.” The foolish man thinks he holds high status to God because he holds many goods; but in reality he is foolish and selfish in letting people suffer to better himself. He therefore and lastly, thinks the “physical stuff” define he’s value to God/ultimate. But in reality King believes it is sacrificing for the good of others that God values. The social class is filled with foolish men today and what we unjustly value will continue for future generations. 

The beginning section of King’s speech had me relate to the company Nike. Phil Knight has a net worth of $25 billion dollars. He follows the footsteps of the rich man in Luke’s parable. He gives unlivable wages to the individuals he has depended on. He takes advantage of working his business internationally to give insufficient wages to his dependent workers. Billion dollar corporations are following the same footsteps and it has made the United States import an immense amount of goods. Because our corporations take advantage of third world countries to create their goods. Nike gives $5 to their workers for a day’s work. The dependent workers go to bed hungry and live in poverty. Yet the foolish man selfishly keeps billions of dollars because we value wealth and find it more important than helping the individuals in need. King understands the culture of the United States is socially conflicted. Money dictates the importance of an individual. Donating our money to those in need further devalues our identity in society.

“In Chicago this man would be considered a big shot” King says, we are characterized by our “physical” goods. King believes there are two realms in which we live, the within and the without. The rich man is a fool because the without (clothes, money, automobiles, etc.) is more important than the within (religion, morality, art, etc.). A fool has no empathy; he believes the world is revolved around himself. King discusses how a rich man in Chicago would buy his wife a lot of goods because he thinks that is what she values (this can be considered true because older wealthy man will most likely have a younger wife therefore the wives are fools as well). But what the fool does not understand is the most important gift for your wife is offering your love and affection. According to King, it is best to always keep a line of demarcation between the within and the without. In my view, this is a way of also attaining virtue.

King references how the world today reflects the past for black males. Ever since “the pilgrims landed at Plymouth” the United States has depended on black individuals to build the the power of white supremacy. For more then two centuries blacks have been depended on developing cotton farms, docks, and mansions in the south. Businesses in Kings time and still some today were unwilling to give a fair or high level of pay to African Americans. 

King would have advised the fool to not let the people he has depended on to sleep with an empty stomach. Businesses store millions of dollars of surplus goods to continue to build their power and profit. The fools keep their surplus goods; the just action would be to take your surplus goods and give it to those in need. King would also advise to give the surplus to the millions who starve around the world. 

King thinks most individuals are not patient and lose faith easily. He even claims himself he felt discouraged and weak. He received a phone call and he was threatened if he didn’t leave Alabama he’s family would be killed. He’s suffering made him think about sin and evil. King questioned what he was doing. He didn’t think it worth losing his family. But religion brought his courage back to life. He prayed out loud this night and told the Lord he was trying to do what’s right. He confessed he’s weakness to the Lord for the sake of his followers. King then heard a voice exclaiming to “stand up for righteousness, justice, truth, and I will be with you.” King believes Jesus will always be with him and for the ones who suffer. The gospel of Luke ridicules the rich and glorifies the poor. Our world needs to attain this gospel and understand we need to value each other rather than ourselves.