0448. The Fool Who Lays Up Treasures for Himself

The Fool Who Lays Up Treasures for Himself

"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 acquired?" (Luk_12:20).

We have before us a most common fool. All around us there are those who are doing just what this fool did. Let us notice the marks of his folly.

1. He had a wrong conception of life. His idea of living was "Eat, drink and be merry." Ecclesiastes concludes that this is all there is for a man in this life. And, since Ecclesiastes is viewing the man under the sun, who has no Christ and knows nothing of another and a better world; of course, Ecclesiastes is right.

The man of the world can find nothing better than to eat and to drink and to be merry; than to anoint his body with oil; than to live happily with the wife of his youth; than to enjoy good in his labor. What else has he? That alone is his portion. And yet, to such an one, God says: "Thou fool."

We need to see that the world is "vanity," a mere glittering soap bubble. We need to count all these earthly things as refuse. We need to "lay up treasures in Heaven." We need to look "at the things which are above." We need to "love not the world."

2. He lived altogether for himself. It was all "I," and "my." He said "I have much goods," "What shall I do?" "I have no room," "my fruits," "my barn," "my goods," "my soul." This man could never get beyond the personal pronoun of his own things. God said he was a fool; God said: "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

And are there not many such people? "They look every one on their own things." They luxuriate and live wantonly, "pride compasseth them about as a chain," "their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish."

3. He received his just condemnation. "This night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast acquired?"

Before one judges the lot of the wicked, the wicked who appear so prosperous, and who live for themselves, he should consider their latter end. Surely God didst set them in slippery places: he catchedst them down to destruction. "How are they brought into desolation as in a moment, they are utterly consumed with terrors."

Men of the world, ye who are rich toward yourselves and poor toward God, beware! Soon, full soon, you will hear His voice: "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR