398. LUK 12:20. THE RICH WORLDLING,
Luk_12:20. The Rich Worldling,
"But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall these things be, which thou hast provided?"’97Luk_12:20.
It is of the utmost importance that we peruse very carefully the narratives of the divine word. It often happens that false notions are adopted through careless and inattentive reading. Many persons, when they have spoken of the rich man who lifted up his eyes in hell, have represented him as a very vile person, perhaps an infidel, or a very profane person. We have no proof that he was either of these. He was a rich man, at ease in his affluence, and careless of eternity’97this is the utmost that can be said of him. So, also, of the person described in the text; he has often been described as a very wicked sensualist: now, there is not a word said respecting him which ought to lead to such a conclusion. It is obvious, from the connection of the text, that the man was lost through being a worldling. He was a covetous worldling. See ver. 15. Let us then consider,
I. His Circumstances.
These are described in one word. He was rich, prosperous. His ground brought forth plentifully. External prosperity is no sign either of the divine approbation, or displeasure. One thing, however, is very certain, that it is a state of imminent danger. We read of three striking cases in the word of God,
(1) A youth, whom riches kept from being a disciple of Christ.
(2) A professor, whom they destroyed, Demas, &c., and then,
(3) The worldling in the text, whose mind was entirely absorbed, so that religion had no place whatever in his thoughts. It is difficult to be prosperous and rich,
(1) Without loving riches. The love of money, &c. Whoso loveth the world, &c. (2) Without thinking ourselves the better and greater for these. How they puff up the mind. How men glory in their profession. (3) Without trusting in them, and not in God. There is danger when full, of denying him
II. His Character.
God gives it. therefore must be correct. "Thou fool." Now, his folly is seen in the following particulars:
1. In being anxious amidst profusion.
We say to that poor man, be not anxious: but the grace of God only can make him happy in poverty. But when you have a competency, why be so? When you are full to overflowing, why be so? Yet he was, ver. 17. How different to others, they had room but no fruits, no goods Blessings not sent to be laid up. No; but to be diffused abroad. He was a fool.
2. Because he expected his soul to be happy with temporal things, ver. 19.
Why, his soul had no appetite for temporal things. It wanted a good suited to its nature. The bird seeks its native air. The fish can exist only in the water. The body of man requires earthly food. But the soul is a spirit, an immortal, immaterial principle, and it must have spiritual food, or starve and die. But he tried to make an earth-worm of his soul. He wished to grovel in the dust.
3. Because he presumptuously calculated on years to come.
The uncertainty of life is most evident. Yet, this is the folly, that all men think all men mortal but themselves. Listen to this reckless boaster, "This will I do." Do not be positive. Is it not better to say, If the Lord will? "Soul, thou hast," &c., "for many years." "Boast not thyself of to-morrow. Thou knowest not," &c. Man is a thing of naught, his breath is in his nostrils, &c. Notice, then,
III. His End.
God saw him, and heard him; and then addressed him, "Thou fool, this night," &c.
1. His end was sudden and unexpected.
"This night." Like the unconscious mariner, who is whistling at the helm, and only thinking of the many months of his voyage, yet, who is approaching the rock on which he will split, and be wrecked, and perish. In the midst of riches; in the midst of plans; in the midst of hopes.
2. His end was unprepared.
He had prepared for his fruits, for the body, and for time; but not, at all for the soul, and for eternity. These neglected, unprepared for, &c.
3. His end was dreadfully momentous.
Thy soul is required. By whom? By thy God. For what? Examination. Judged for its eternal destiny. The books are opened The trial. The sentence,’97all awaits thee.
Application
1. Do not idolize, and trust in riches.
2. Be anxious for your soul’s welfare.
3. Come to Jesus. He will make you wise to eternal life.
4. Do not presume. Do not calculate upon the future.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS