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THE RICH FOOL
Then he told
them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And
he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to
store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down
my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my
grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have
ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be
merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your
life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared,
whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures
for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
In this passage Jesus tells us exactly what
he wants us to know, and then he tells a story. Before
the parable, someone asks Jesus to get his brother to divide
their inheritance, and Jesus says that is not his job. But he
adds: "Watch and guard yourself against the spirit which is
always wanting more; for even if a man has an abundance, his
life does not come from his possessions." And then he tells this
parable.
The Rev. William Barclay has written New
Testament commentaries to help make the Bible more relevant to
life and work for us common folk. He says Jesus used this
parable as an opportunity to tell what his followers' attitude
to material things should be.
Two things are apparent: This man is
totally wrapped up in himself. Six times in four verses, he
says, "I have" or "I will." He does not even consider that he
could give some of his abundance away to others. Instead of
finding happiness in giving, he chooses to find ways to keep
more for himself.
Barclay gives this amazing illustration:
"John Wesley's rule of life was to save all he could and give
all he could. When he was at Oxford he had an income of 30
pounds a year. He lived on 28 pounds and gave 2 away. When his
income increased to 60, 90 and 120 pounds a year, he still lived
on 28 and gave the balance away." He could not justify using
more for himself when others around him were still hungry.
The man in the parable does not see beyond
the present world he lives in. His plans are only for more
comfort and riches in this world. The rising and falling stock
market of 2008 has been a reminder for us of where people have
put their trust and of what they valued. Jesus reminds us: "For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Lord, help us to seek your kingdom,
treasure you, and share what we have. Amen
Glennyce Reimers
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