“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee…” Luke 12:20

If anyone still questions the truthfulness of Isaiah 55:8 (my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways) and 1 Sam. 16:7 (…the LORD does not see as man does…), Luke 12:20 is their best answer.

Indeed, as finite beings, we are not just limited in our thoughts compared to our Infinite Heavenly Father; sometimes, we can literally misplace the cursor of priorities, thus provoking God’s wrath. I believe that was the biggest mistake the rich man of Luke12:16-20 made. He first displayed his foolishness 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” He was literally praying for his soul to rest and God heard his foolish prayer.

Beloved, below are two lessons from that parable:

1. Life is beyond gathering and accumulating wealth : Is human being more material than spiritual? Does our soul eat what is stored in a barn? While food is useful for us to be physically healthy, our souls which are spiritual rather feed on spiritual stuffs. For failing to know it, that man toiled but someone else would enjoy the fruit of his labor. That corroborates the words of Ecclesiastes 2: 18-19: “Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?” Placing material things first is making them one’s master and that simply means that God is not.

2. We are blessed so we can be a blessing to others : God does not bless for the blessed to keep everything for themselves. Rather, His desire is for them to be like pipes through which the blessing will flow to others. He also wants that blessing to contribute to building and advancing His kingdom. He never wants us to set our heart on these material things lest our focus shifts from God (Matthew 6:21). Therefore, because the rich man was both self-centered and selfish and because he factored neither God nor people in the abundant increase he received, God had to remove him from the equation so the blessing can benefit others.

Beloved, let’s engrave this truth in our mind: we are not owners but rather stewards of blessings God sends our way (1 Cor. 4:2). God bless you!