RPG Adults
THE RICH FOOL – THE REASON HE IS A FOOL
LORD’S DAY, JUNE 7
Luke 12:13-21
Memory verse: Luke 12:20-21
“So is he that layeth up
treasure for himself,
and is not rich toward God.”
THE RICH FOOL – THE REASON HE IS A FOOL
The word for “fool” refers to one who lacks understanding. He fails to reflect on his life and makes decisions based on an uncertain tomorrow, often influenced by past experiences that have left him with a sense of always having a tomorrow. The rich fool was focused on his bumper harvest and the larger barns needed to store them, so he assumed he would live long enough to enjoy his newfound wealth! He considered tearing down the old, smaller barns and building larger, newer ones. New investments to cater for new wealth occupied his mind. He said to himself in Luke 12:19, “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.”
In his mind, his future was secured safely with his newfound wealth. His present improved carnal lifestyle would continue with his new and larger barns filled with his plentiful harvest. His mind was thoroughly focused on eating, drinking and merry-making. Then God said to him that he was a fool because he failed to realise that “this night thy [his] soul shall be required of thee [him]: then whose shall those things be, which thou [he] hast provided?” (Luke 12:20).
God called him a fool, not because he had wealth. God called him a fool because he was content with a wealth he could not hold on to. He worked so hard only to have another enjoy his hard-earned wealth. Furthermore, he should have known that his life was not in his hands. He had no control over many things in the present and future, so it was foolish to say to his soul that his future was secured. With this foolish notion, he wanted to live in carnality till he died. His life of sin would condemn him to hell as he would die in sin.
The rich man did not reflect on his life. He allowed his lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes to blind him to a hedonistic life of materialism that consumed his soul like a canker. The seductive powers of worldliness, with all its loud philosophies of “never enough” continue to plague humanity. Has it seduced you, dear reader? Are you a fool?
THOUGHT: What do I say to my soul daily? Eat, drink and be merry?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me not to be a fool for Christ’s sake.