Day 9- The Rich Fool
Read it: Luke 12:16-21
Live it:
Imagine you have traveled all morning to see Jesus. The crowds are pushing at each other, stepping on your feet, and elbowing you on your left as you attempt to protect yourself and your family. At the same time, you are trying to see Jesus. All you want to do is hear what he has to say! Jesus speaks, and everything is both complicated and simple at the same time. Sometimes you get it, and sometimes, well, you have no idea what the point was. And then, that guy…
You know, the one who always asks a stupid question. Well, maybe not stupid, but one that no one cares about. He is across the crowd yelling, “Hey Jesus, tell my brother to give me my portion of daddy’s money!” What? Why would you ask that? Wait, what? Did he really ask that? Jesus isn’t some arbitrator of conflict. He is a holy man! He is a righteous man! He has God on his side, but he doesn’t do judgment. Did you hear what Jesus said? Jesus is not a judge and has not been appointed a judge! What a ding-dong that guy is!
Wait! What did Jesus say? He told this story: a rich dude (definitely not me) had more than he needed, and instead of blessing others, he hoarded it for himself. God judged him, and he lost not only his life on this earth but his life with God for eternity. Jesus taught that life is not in possessions!
But Jesus, I need a place to live; I need a car; I need good clothes; I need a job; Jesus, I need …
But, do we really need …?
How much stuff do you have packed away in a storage unit that you have not thought about for over a year? How much stuff do you have in your garage that you have not looked at in a year? How much stuff do you have in your closet that you have not worn for over a year?
How about your spending habits? If the government looked at your bank account and expenses, would you be convicted of being a Christian?
“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy.” The rich man stored his up in his barn and lost everything. It is time to give out of our barns and gain everything.
Carl