Luke 12:16-21 (KJV) Says, " And He spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
In the above parable Jesus speaks of a rich man who planted seed, and reaped a great harvest year after year. He had been so blessed that he lacked enough room to store the fruit he had harvested. He pondered over what to do to resolve this problem, and opted to pull down the barns he had, and build larger ones that would hold his entire harvest. Note that he had been storing goods for many years, and that he was doing so in order that he could eventually take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry. Then God says to him that he is going to die that very night, and he asked him who will have all the things that he has laid up as treasure for himself after he is gone? God tells him he is a fool because he has laid up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
The rich man in this parable wasn't thinking about laying up treasures in heaven. He was so wrapped up in himself that he ignored God, and those who were poor and needy. Notice that he speaks only of his wants, ideas, and plans never considering God's. The parable says he thought within himself, what shall I do, I have no room, this will I do, I will pull down my barns, build a large one, and I will store up all my fruits. Over and over again he uses the words I and my demonstrating just how self-centered he was. Note also that the more some people gain through blessings, the more they worry about how to hold on to it, and how to get more of it.
The rich man didn't consider the fact that it was God who had rained abundant blessings down on him. In fact, he didn't mention God anywhere in all his planning, and God should be first in our lives. When this rich man was thinking about what to do in regards to the problem of lack of store space for his fruit, he should have consulted God asking what he should do with the abundance of fruit he had been blessed with. Instead, however, he reasoned about it within himself. He knew his plan was to hold on to every bit of his harvest, stop working, and live the remainder of his life eating, drinking, and being merry. He never considered that he could die that very night, and leave all of his material possessions behind, and yet that is exactly what happened
The more some people gain the more they desire, and the more they worry about holding on to it. Whatever they're holding onto becomes an obsession. There comes a point when greed takes over, and they're never satisfied that they have enough. What is enough?
Failing to recognize that it was God who had blessed him so abundantly, the rich man also failed to give Him the praise and glory He deserved for doing so. He held tightly to all that God had blessed him with demonstrating exactly how greedy he was. He didn't consult God as to what he should do with the excess harvest that his barns would not hold. If he had, God probably would have suggested he give it to the poor, the hungry, and the needy. He didn't give any of it away which demonstrates not only greed, but a failure to trust God to continue to bless him.
In the end because the rich man didn't put God first in his life, because he consulted himself instead of God, because he was selfish, self-centered, and greedy, he lost everything including his life. This man spent his time focused on himself, and his worldly possessions. He ignored God and the needs of his fellow man, and placed all of his attention on worldly gain, which in the end he left behind. Jesus makes it clear in the above parable that when we live the life of a fool, we are going to lose. He gives us an example of this using the rich man, and his abundant blessings.
Is there anything in your life that you love so much you place it before God on your list of priorities? Or, Is God first in your life? Do you trust God? Do you go to him in prayer for guidance regarding the decisions you must make in your life? Do you share the blessings God rains down on you with others, or do you behave like the rich man in the parable?
I urge you to keep God first in your life, to recognize the blessings He gives you, and to give Him the glory, thanks, and praise he deserves for those blessings. Share your blessings of overflow with others, trust God, and live the life of divine peace, joy, and contentment He desires for you to live.
If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.
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