The parable of the Rich Man
In Luke 12, Jesus told his disciples a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, what shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. Then he said, this is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I ‘ll say to myself, you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat; drink and be merry. But God said to him, you fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself”? This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God.
No Recognition of God
The Rich man was in a prosperous condition. The ground brought forth plentiful. He was recognized in the world as a rich man. Then one day he asked himself a question, “What shall I do?” leaning upon his own understanding, he failed to diagnose his problem. There was a vision of lavish abundance. He was unconscious of the crisis to determine his eternal character. There was no recognition of God in his plans. He made the greatest miscalculation by deliberately voting God out of his life and business.
Absorbed in Self Gratification
He said to himself; you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat and be merry. He congratulated himself. He was self centered and absorbed in self gratification.
Terrible Awakening
God said to him, ” You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself”. A fearful interruption and a terrible awakening. His soul was required that very night.
Self Centered
We have been warned repeatedly by the Word of God: he that lays up treasure for himself is not rich towards God. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but lose his own soul? We become self centered and not Christ centered. Philippians 2:21 – “They all look after their own interest not that of Christ”. 2 Tim 3:2-4, “Men will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Philippians 2:4- “Let each of you look not to his own interest – but also to the interest of others”. Acts 15:25-26, Many risk their lives for the sake of the gospel.