LUKE 12:13-2113And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18And 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. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20But 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? 21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:13‑21).
Verses 13-15. "And one of the company said unto Him, Master [or Teacher], speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me.' And He said unto Him, ' Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?' And He said unto them, 'Take heed, and beware of [keep yourselves from] covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.'”
CHRIST was born King of the Jews, and He came a Light into the world, to communicate among men the mind and will of God. But He took no official place under the existing government of the world, nor in the general affairs of men. Hence He refuses to interfere in this matter. But He gave to the company, or multitude, a solemn word of warning concerning covetousness. He reminded them that there was something more worth living for than the accumulation of riches.
Verses 16-18. "And He spake a parable unto them, saying, 'The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he thought [was reasoning] within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow [gather together] 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.'”
Human reason was consulted, but there is here no inquiry of the mind of God for Divine direction, and human will is acted upon and human policy followed. Treasure is laid up on earth, and there is no provision, or desire, for heavenly riches.
Verse 19. "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.'”
What intense selfishness is here! All the thoughts of this man are centered in self. His ground had brought forth plentifully, yet it was God who had given the rain and the fruitful seasons, but there is no recognition of God, or grateful return to Him.
We read in Psalm 49:66They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; (Psalm 49:6), " They that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches (verses 1-13), their inward thought is that their houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling-places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless, man, being in honor, abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly, yet their posterity approve their sayings.”
God created the soul for Himself, and nothing but Himself can satisfy it. The soul is destined for an eternal existence, and neither the riches of earth nor the things of time can fill its boundless capacities. "Boast not thyself of to-morrow," said the wise man, much less of a long succession of to-morrows, lasting for many years, "for thou knowest not what a day," or night, "may bring forth.”
The rich man, with Lazarus at the gate, fared sumptuously every day, "but the end of that mirth was heaviness." It is generally found that those who share their wealth with the needy enjoy their own portion far more than those who spend all their riches on themselves.
Verses 20, 21. "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.”
Though this man had nothing to say to God, yet God had something to say to him, for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. The folly of human wisdom is strikingly shown in this parable in five particulars:
1. The substitution of human reason for Divine direction.
2. The will of man for the will of God.
3. In preferring the riches of the world to laying up treasures in heaven.
4. In desiring things which are seen and temporal rather than those things which are unseen and eternal.
5. In seeking satisfaction in selfish enjoyment rather than in the favor and love of God. As Christ expressed it, "So is every one that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”