Do you know someone who always has to buy the latest new thing? A new edition of a smartphone comes out and they need to buy it, even though the one they currently have is still perfectly fine. They keep buying more and more of the latest technology. They get themselves a brand new car each year, too. Their possessions mount up, and their desire for more seems to be insatiable. Our Scripture for today is a warning that Jesus gave to avoid being such a person. Let’s look into our Gospel reading.
As our Scripture opens, a man came to Jesus asking Him to settle a financial disagreement he had with his brother. Jesus declined being asked to do this, and then warned the man to not fall into the trap of desiring possessions (vs. 13-15). Jesus’ statement that “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” is one that this world really needs to hear. This is a trap that even Christians need to be careful of being ensnared with. Most of the world tries to find life in possessions, however there is nothing of any real or lasting value in these things. Life is found only in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Wealth can never substitute for a relationship with God. It will ultimately only make the heart feel hollow (Ecclesiastes 6:2).
Living a good life has nothing to do with being wealthy. Jesus warns us to be on guard against greed. Greed is an inordinate desire for more, an unsatisfied hunger to possess more and more. It is forever discontent, insatiably craving, longing, wanting, and striving for more. Are you and I like that? Having a truly good life is living in a relationship with God, and doing His work.
Jesus proceeded to tell a brief parable, one about a rich man who had spent his whole life accumulating goods and money, but he had neglected the most important thing (vs. 16-21). This man had so many goods that he had to build a bigger building to hold them all. His wealth allowed him to live a life of wining and dining like a playboy. However, this rich man couldn’t see beyond his present life. His enjoyment and security were in his wealth and possessions. Others may have admired him, but God thought he was a fool. He had stored up treasures, but was bankrupt before God. The man had provided for the flesh, but not for his soul. His soul had nothing.
What did God call this man? He called him a “fool”! (vs. 20). He was someone who acted unwisely, who acted imprudently. God had given him, and all mankind His Word, which contains true wisdom, including about what true riches are, and how we should handle earthly wealth and possessions. However, this man had not heeded God’s Word, and was a true fool. He was going to die, and then whose would his wealth belong to? He couldn’t take his wealth with him when he died, either to heaven or to hell.
There is nothing wrong with preparing for our retirement, our life before death. However few prepare for their life after death, which is disastrous to neglect. God had blessed this man with years of financial prosperity. Riches, if rightly acquired, should be thought of as a blessing from God, and treated accordingly. Instead of using these blessings from God as He would want, this man just heaped them up for himself.
God does not want us to set our heart on the things our money can buy. Instead, we need to work at being the person God wants us to be, and not depending on the number of our possessions. Jesus notices what we keep, as well as what we give. Our real values in life are revealed by what we keep and what we give. We need to be busy making deposits in heaven’s bank, not here on earth. A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth, but not have a rich relationship with God.
There is a penalty for misplaced priorities. The foolish man passed away with no opportunity to enjoy his goods. Even worse, he died with a bankrupt soul. What about you? Are you rich in earthly possessions, but poor in treasures in heaven? If riches come our way, will we use them for ourselves, or for God? Jesus ended the parable by saying that that very night the rich man’s soul was called (vs. 20). “This night” will come to each of us sooner or later. Will we be ready?
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