1. HE HAD PROSPERITY
We learn this in verse 16: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully." Normally, this would be good news. However on this particular occasion, because of his prosperity...
2. HE HAD A PROBLEM
The rich man didn't have enough room to store his plentiful harvest. He asked himself in verse 17: "What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?" Although this was a problem, it wasn't long before...
3. HE HAD A PROPOSAL
That is, the rich man had a plan. In verse 18, we learn what he proposed to do about his storage problem: "I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods." Remember friends, as we learned yesterday, being prosperous is not inherently wicked. It is within the rich man's proposed plan that we find a wicked, covetous attitude developing toward his prosperity. Note the usage of the personal pronouns "I" and "my". With those two words, the rich man referred to himself six times (almost a dozen times when we include the instances in verse 19). Truly, the man had an "I" disorder! Instead of sharing his abundance with those in need (and consequently those who could have helped him store his surplus) the rich man decided to hoard his "crops and goods" into larger barns. In addition to the rich man's proposal...
4. HE HAD A PRESUMPTION
The rich man's bold presumption is found in verse 19: "And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.'" The rich man's erroneous presumption was two-fold. First, he presumed his soul could be satisfied with material things. Second, although he had goods for many years, he presumed he had many years remaining. The hard truth of the matter was he didn't have one day remaining! Tragically, because of the rich man's trust in his own health and earthly treasures...
5. HE HAD NOT PREPARED FOR ETERNITY
Although the rich man was making plans and preparing for the near future, he failed to prepare for eternity. He put too much emphasis on material things and squandered his life on materialism and earthly riches. Because of his presumption and lack of preparedness, we read in verse 20 how "God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'" The foolish rich man failed to realize that there is no guarantee regarding the number of days one will have upon this earth. All would do well to remember that life is "a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:13-15).
Dear friends, let us conclude, focusing upon Christ's sobering words which follow the parable in verse 21: "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." The foolish rich man worked and planned to achieve a level of security only to die shortly after. How many on this earth have done (or are doing) the same? Although Jesus was speaking a parable about a rich man who did not exist, many in our present age unfortunately think and act like the rich man. Such are (like the rich man) fools in the eyes of God.
Are you laying up eternal treasures for yourself in heaven, or are you wasting the precious time you have on this earth in pursuit of corruptible, earthly riches? If heaven is your treasure chest, keep it up; you will not be disappointed. On the other hand, if this earth is your treasure chest, I urge you to remember the words of Christ recorded in Luke 12:15: "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."