The Rich Man But A Fool

The Lord Jesus Christ is the best teacher of all times. He always use simple words. His hearers do not have to look for a Webster dictionary or a Thesaurus to understand his teaching. To further clarify and to visibly demonstrate the spiritual truths that he wants to impart to his hearers, he would refer to the lilies in the field and the birds in the air, etc. as natural visual aids, or relate a parable, which is an earthly story with spiritual meaning. For example, in Luke 12:16-21, he related the parable of the rich fool.

“The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  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.  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

                This man had abundantly received everything from God, “For he maketh the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just or unjust” (Matthew 5:45). Stated differently, the showers of heaven fall on the evil and the good alike. The Lord had caused vegetation to flourish, and his farm yielded superabundant harvest.

The rich man was in a quandary as to what he should do with all his abundant produce. He had great wealth and regarded himself as favored above others and took credit to himself for his good fortune. Notably, he had obtained his riches, not by gambling, or by graft and corruption as he was not a public official, not by taking advantage of another’s misfortune who had been involved in financial crisis for one reason or another and who was obliged to sell his lands and other properties below cost; but his wealth had been obtained through the providence of God in causing his land to yield abundantly. In short, he gained his riches without employing dishonest means or schemes.

But the man revealed his selfishness, as evidenced by so many “I” and “my” in his personal plans about what to do with his riches.

It is obvious that he did not think of God, the great provider of all his blessings, in his plans. Had he done so, he would have first of all, offered up thanksgiving and bowed down before God, saying, “I praise you LORD, please direct and guide me how to use the riches you have abundantly bestowed upon me for your greater glory and honor”.

How many hungry brethren could have been fed; how many naked clothed; how many hearts made glad beyond description in words, and what a melody of praise to God could he have caused to ascend to heaven, and prayer uttered for him by those he could have helped, if he was not that selfish – all plans only for himself and no one else. Had he done the reverse, with his superabundant extra income, he could have fed the hungry; clothed the naked and helped the poor and needy (the ones in need are not necessarily poor) so that many of those he could have helped prayed for him for the exceeding grace of God for his “material gift” so he will be continuously blessed more and more, materially, physically and spiritually. (2 Corinthians 9:14-15).

Going back to what I said “the needy are not necessarily poor”, let me demonstrate this truth by reproducing, to be accurate, the parable of the Good Samaritan, related by the Lord Jesus Christ:

“And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee” (Luke 10:30-35 KJV).

               In this parable, it is obvious that the victim was not poor because he was precisely robbed. No one will rob a poor man! In his condition, the victim needed help “to survive” so to speak. In that sense, he was a needy person. The Good Samaritan, had to administer first aid, sacrificed by letting him ride on his donkey and brought him to an inn (hotel of modern day), and by taking care of him, thus spending his own hard-earned money (he used to work hard and perhaps oftentimes render overtime, so he will have extra income). And to further demonstrate his love and concern, and kindness and willingness to sacrifice for the victim beyond measure, he told the innkeeper-Manager, “take care of him, and whatsoever you will spend more, when I come again to your hotel, I will repay you.” Translated in Tagalog language, “Kung kulang pa ang aking binigay, abunohan mo at sa aking pagbabalik, babayaran kita.”

But this man in the parable of Jesus who was made suddenly rich superabundantly closed the avenues of his soul to the cry of the poor and needy; and in planning to dispose his superabundance of goods he merely considered his personal needs, thus, he thought within himself, saying “What shall “I” do, because “I” have no room where to bestow “my” gifts? This will “I” do: “I” will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there (rather than help the poor and needy) will “I” bestow all “my” fruits and “my” goods. And “I” will say to “my” soul, since thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thy ease (relax), eat, drink, and be merry (Like 12:17-19 KJV). The plan of the man revealed what was in his heart. The Lord Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15 KJV).

Notice the rich man’s selfishness as eloquently evidenced by the numerous “I” and “my” in his plans. And what was the result? God took back his soul that night he was planning, thereby he left behind everything. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matt. 8:36). Obviously, he gained nothing. We do not even know where his soul will go in eternity. But had he acted the Christian way, we can be sure as night follows day, that his soul will rest in eternity in the mansion prepared by Jesus Christ for all his true disciples or believers (John 14:2). His life would not have been shortened. He could have reached the scriptural age of seventy years or even more and made even richer as years were added to his life.

Let us strive to be rich materially and more importantly spiritually, and be generous to the poor and needy. Solomon taught us, “It is the generous man that shall prosper” (Proverbs 11:24-25).

This is the Christian way, the Full Gospel way: to be rich but wise.

(FGBMFI Davao City Chapter Bulletin, October 6, 2012)