In Luke 12:13-21 Jesus responding to one that wanted Him to settle a family feud over an inheritance, uses a parable showing the futility of covetousness for earthly treasure. The story is about a business man (in this case a farmer) whose business was prospering and his desire was to get bigger and bigger, to get more and more, and to live the life of luxury and pleasure. Nowhere does the Bible indicate that God disapproves having material things, or enjoying them; in fact He is the source of these things, and Psalm 84:11 says, “No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” What He does disapprove of is those things having us, controlling us! Bear in mind that it was not only the balance on the ledger sheet this man was obsessed with, true this seems to be the major factor in the story, but it includes every passion and pleasure this affords as he says, “take your ease; eat, drink and be merry.” His focus was centered on having the good life now; satisfying the carnal appetites, the fleshly desires and cravings, laying up earthly treasures as though this present earthly life would last forever; but alas, at the end of his earthly life God called him “Fool” because he had not made preparation for eternal treasure! Apparently a similar spirit is what kept the rich ruler in Luke 18:18-23 from eternal salvation; and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31 to end up in the eternal torment of Hades! No wonder Jesus wise advice is, “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:20-21.
The fool
By Rose Hill
If you’re very rich and have much in store,
And on this earth you always want more.
Jesus said a fool you must be;
From the love of this world you need to be free.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.