Title: Rich fool / Luke 12:15-21
Contents
Subject: Rich fool (Luke 12:15-21)
(Introduction) Body armor was first invented to protect the chest and abdomen of soldiers during the American Civil War. A Confederate soldier proudly stepped out in front of an enemy during the Battle of Mississippi in that body armor when an enemy bullet hit the soldier's head and died. This was due to the folly of believing that the whole body was safe as long as they covered their chest.
The rich man in today's text was such a foolish man. He thought that his whole life was to reap bountifully the produce of the field. For some it can be wealth, for others it can be power. It may be a degree for those seeking knowledge, and it may be popular with celebrities. It can be healthy for the sick.
For the rich in the text, it is a bountiful harvest of agriculture. In fact, all of this is the wish of all human beings. But Jesus declared the rich man 'stupid'.
So who was this rich man?
(一) He believed that wealth brought him happiness.
It is no exaggeration to say that wealth is directly related to life for modern people. That is why most people accumulate wealth regardless of means, such as real estate, stocks, and savings accounts. It is because they believe that happiness and unhappiness depend on how much or little they have.
So was the rich man in the text. He was so rich that he had no place to store up any more. That year, the field yielded abundantly. He was a person who had nothing to worry about anymore, as he had enough money to use for the rest of his life as well as a legacy to pass on to future generations.
He thought that if he had enough wealth, he would find not only pleasure in the body but also peace in the soul, and whispered to his soul, "Soul, lay up many things for many years to rest, eat, drink, and be merry." (verse 19)
But did he really enjoy peace of mind? Could you lead a happy, worry-free life? It wasn't. On the contrary, his great wealth only added to his anguish. He struggled with how to manage his many possessions.
Verse 17, "And he thought in his heart, and said, What shall I do, since I have no place to store the grain?" This is not the admiration of those who enjoy the happiness of life. It's not like it's so much fun and it's not like it's bursting out without knowing it. On the contrary, it is a sigh and a moan that comes from thinking about things because of the enormous wealth that is difficult to even handle.
That's right. Humans are never meant to enjoy peace and happiness through wealth. Because man is a spiritual being with a soul. That's why the Lord said, "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (verse 15).
(二) He forgot God and his neighbor and only thought about his own comfort.
The philosopher Aristotle said, "Man is a social animal." That's right. Humans can never live alone. They are weak and lacking beings that can only survive if they depend on each other and cooperate. Nevertheless, many people live like a single fire general with the belief that all they need to do is live well and be in peace.
To satisfy their lust for pleasure and riches, they do not hesitate to commit robbery, rape, human trafficking, kidnapping, and even murder. Such unscrupulous behavior is a terrible sin created by extreme selfishness that only one knows.
If a man hates to put God in his heart, he has no choice but to do "things that are not worthy" (Romans 1:19-32), far from caring for his neighbor.
The rich man in the text did not give a helping hand to his neighbor or thank God for giving it because he thought that the rich material given to him was entirely his own effort. I built it.
The Apostle Paul said that those who live only for the flesh, "their end is destruction, their spirit is their belly, and their glory is in their shame, who think of the things of the earth" (Philippians 3:19).
Such a person said, "Knowing God, but not glorifying him as God, nor giving thanks." (Romans 1:21)
(3) He did not realize that the owner of the soul was God.
This rich man himself was the owner. He lived under the illusion that all his possessions and even his soul belonged to him. So, he worked hard and reaped bountifully the crops of his field, and said to his soul, "Let us rest in peace, eat, drink, and be merry."
If rich material is the guarantee of soul gratification, then why did Moses count the reproach for Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt? (Heb 11:26)
If man could command his soul to enjoy peace, how could David say to his anxious soul, "Look for God"? (Psalm 42:5)
This tells us that the riches of this earth can never satisfy the soul of man, and that apart from God who made the soul (Jeremiah 38:16), we can never enjoy true peace.
Every human being has a soul thirst that no one can deny. The rich here also tried to quench their soul's thirst by accumulating a lot of wealth.
However, a warning came to this rich man who had amassed enormous wealth. "Tonight your soul will be retrieved, then whose will your preparations be?" (verse 20)
Those who lived in poverty with wealth and authority, and those who barely survived because of poverty, are all empty-handed in the face of death. Because ultimately people come empty-handed and go empty-handed.
Therefore, those who do not know that God is the master of their souls, and live their lives as if they are the masters of their own souls, are foolish and rich.
Dear saints, We bear in mind that it is God who afflicts our souls (Job 27:2), rejoices (Psalm 86:4), destroys (Matthew 10:28), and revives (Psalm 23:3) our souls. Please.
(Conclusion) Dear saints! What are you really living for?
The Bible says “Come, you who thirst, come to the waters. He who has no money, come. Come, buy and eat; come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. "Obey me, and you will eat good things, and you will find joy in the fatness of your hearts. Incline your ear and come to me and hear. And your souls may live." (Isa 55:1-3)
Respected people who came out here! Do you agree? Open your heart to God, the master of your soul, and receive Jesus. Then, I believe that Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life, will lead you to a happy path. (Psalm 23:3)