Jesus had a man to come ask him if he would speak to his brother to
divide the inheritance with him. Jesus said he was not a divider of 
inheritances but that they should beware of covetousness “for a man’s
life consisteth not in the abundance of the things, which he possesseth.”
(Lk. 12:15). Then Jesus spoke this parable: “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.” 
(Lk. 12:16-21). 

 1. It is not a sin to be rich. Abraham was called the friend of God
    but he was very rich (Gen. 13:2; James 2:23). It is a sin to trust
    in riches. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be
    not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living 
    God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” (I Tim. 6:17). It
    is the Love of money that is the root of all evil (I Tim. 6:10).
    Rich people have a tremendous responsibility “that they be rich 
    in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” 
    (I Tim. 6:18). 

 2. It is not a sin to build greater barns. If the crop is made it is
    either find a place to put it or it will spoil in the field. With
    this abundant crop this rich farmer needed a good distribution 
    center in the form of a bigger barn. The trouble with this man was 
    that he had no plans to do any distributing. He was selfish and 
    covetous. He wanted everything for self and for self alone. Having 
    this attitude he enjoyed none of his worldly goods. It is more 
    blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). 

 3. This man made the mistake of counting as his all the  earthly goods
    he had accumulated. “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: it
    is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish
    his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
    (Deut. 8:18). “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; 
    the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Ps. 24:1). We are but 
    stewards of the goods that come into our hands and we are 
    responsible before God as to how we use them. 

 4. This man left God out of his thinking. Six times he talked about
    what “I” will do, and five times he used “my”, but not once did 
    he refer to God. This is a mistake many people make. They are 
    like the animals under the acorn tree which enjoy the acorns but 
    never look up to see from whence they come. How many people obtain 
    educations, enjoy good health, work at jobs, enjoy good recreation,
    have good families, and yet leave God completely out of their lives.
    They take no time to worship, no time to obey God, no time to 
    cultivate the needs of their souls, and have nothing to give to 
    the work of the Lord. “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and
    all these things shall be added unto you” (Lk. 12:31).

 5. This man thought that material things would satisfy his soul. He
    had many goods laid up for many years and thought he could enjoy
    them for many years. “Man shall not live by bread alone but by 
    every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Mat. 4:4). 
    Just as the body needs bread the soul needs the word. Man loses 
    all who does not take care of his soul’s needs (Mat. 16:26). 

 6. This man thought he had a lease on life. Little did he know that
    the day he told his soul all these things was his last day on earth.
    All of us should live as if this day was our last. If it was Sunday
    and you knew it was your last day where would you go? If it was 
    one of the other days of the week how would you be acting, talking
    and where would you be going? Would there be any time to study the
    Bible, to pray, to go to worship, and to try to help someone who 
    needed your help? We should be doing the things every day as if 
    it was our last one. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou 
    knowest not what a day may bring forth.” (Prov. 27:1). We know not 
    what will be on the morrow because our lives are as vapors that
    appear for a little time and then vanish away (James 4:13,14). 

 Life is uncertain so take time to obey God, & to do good. 

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