In Luke’s gospel, Jesus speaking, we read, “Then He (Jesus) said, ‘Beware. Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’ Then He told them a story: ‘A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, ‘My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool. You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ ‘Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God’” (Luke 12:15-21).
We all know that death is inevitable. I say it all the time, “The death rate is still hovering around 100%. We are going to die. But what concerns me, is how, at times, it comes as a big surprise. Meaning, we just never know, do we?
The words of Jesus in this story are precisely about that – a wealthy man had it all, and yet, wasted it all. Death came without warning. But what I do not want you to miss is that God called him ‘fool’ – for being so self-absorbed, and in that, assuming there is always tomorrow.
You see, though he may have been rich in the world’s eyes, this man had no relationship with God, and thus, ended up quite poor in the end. What a tragedy in wasting one’s life. You see, all the treasures we store for ourselves on earth, become worthless when we die. But all the treasures stored in God, become beyond valuable when we breathe our last.
Now, in light of this story, allow me to ask two vital questions…
First, if you were to die today, would you go to heaven? Have you truly and fully accepted God’s gift of salvation by surrendering your life and trusting in Jesus as the acceptable sacrifice for your sin. Jesus is the only way. Nothing else will work – no excuses, or even sincere beliefs in other ways.
But secondly, what is your life accomplishing? Are you driven by selfish purposes, building bigger barns, storing for yourself a false security and temporal wealth? Or is your motivation to further God’s kingdom?
Again, like the man in the story, none of us know when our final breath will come. I have had many friends die sooner than they, or I, had ever thought – but praise be to God they knew Jesus.
My friends, eternity is a long time, and I believe, worthy of our attention, for it is definitely the wisest investment we will ever make – to make sure of our salvation and to invest in God’s kingdom.
