TOPIC :  “LESSON FROM THE RICH FOOL“

Text:  Luke 12:13-21

13. And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

14. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

15. And 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.

16. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully;

17. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18. 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.

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.

20. 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?

21. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

KEY VERSE: Luke 12:20,21

“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.”

MESSAGE

There is a mad rush in the world to acquire wealth, in the vain hope that the more riches one amasses, the happier one becomes. But while material wealth can bring a measure of comfort, it cannot guarantee anyone’s fulfilment in life. And worse still, the superficial satisfaction it affords can become an impediment to preparing for life after death.

This is the message the Lord Jesus Christ conveyed when someone asked Him to adjudicate in a dispute with his brother over inheritance. While dismissing the man’s request, Jesus saw in it, an opportunity to underscore the right attitude towards the accumulation of wealth. Jesus warned the man to guard against greed and covetousness. He illustrated this with the parable of a rich man who prospered greatly in his business. In his desire to amass more wealth, he concluded that he would enlarge his storehouse to accommodate more goods. He thought this would bring him a life of ease and merriment. But that night, God demanded his soul. He was only concerned with his comfort on earth but failed to consider the afterlife.

It is utter delusion to assume that success is equated with the riches a person has amassed or his rising fame. True success or wealth is measured by the amount of treasures we lay up in heaven.

If God has blessed you with riches, you should first ensure that you establish a flourishing relationship with Him; then, use your wealth to assist other people. This is how to lay your treasure in heaven.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Paying no attention to life after death is disastrous.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Genesis 1-3

Daily Manna is the daily devotional of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Ministry (DCLM). It is an extraction of God’s Word designed to draw the sincere seeker closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word.