Don’t Be A Fool

Text

Luke 12:16–21 KJV 1900

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 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. 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. 20 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? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Introduction

There is a certain board game believed by many historians to have been invented in India around the 6th Century, called chess. Chess is a game of strategy and conquest. The object being, to capture the other player’s king, which is known as checkmate.

Due to the nature of the game, it is more popular among men and boys than women and girls. I learned to play chess at an early age, and still play it occasionally. Today, there are two ways the game is played— without a clock or with a clock. Without the clock is known as slow chess, and with the clock is known as speed chess.

Basically, the same rules apply, except for the clock. Without getting to deep into the weeds of the game, the bottom line with speed chess is this: the status of the clocks takes precedence over the board position in declaring the outcome of a game.

You can have the advantage and even declare checkmate; however, if your flag has fallen (meaning you are out of time) and your opponent’s flag has not, the fallen flag loses. For in speed chess, as in life, time is very precious.

Our text today deals with a parable of Jesus that addresses life’s priorities from God’s perspective. It shines a light upon the the preciousness of time and the vanity of a life without a right relationship with God.

Vv. 16-17, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: (17) And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?”

Here Jesus speaks about the bumper crop of a certain rich man. It is not unusual of Jesus to leave the man’s name anonymous, which lets us know that this has broad application.

However, what we do know is that the man was rich. I would not doubt that he was hard working, smart, and probably appeared to be in good health. He was probably known by most and admired by many. Therefore, by all worldly standards he was successful, and I’m sure had many friends. Proverbs 14:20, says, “The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.”

In fact, he was so successful that he was challenged with how to handle the increase of his riches. He had run out of room to store his fruits. Most people would love to have this kind of problem. For most of us deal with trying to make ends meet, but not this brother—his cup was overflowing.

It appears that he was a shrewd hard working businessman. The text suggests that he spent much time planning how to increase his business, not wasting his time in trivial pursuits like developing a right relationship with God.

He seemed like a really nice guy. He was probably philanthropic, contributing to the young entrepreneurs club, the local orphanage, youth sports, and the widows relief fund. The kind of guy that parents held in high esteem and would point to as a role model for their children.

In fact, if he was around today the people would try to send him to congress or at minimum elect him governor or mayor. He would sit on several boards of directors. People would flock to him for financial advice, and if he wrote a book, it would immediately become a best seller.

I am sure that people would ask him, “What’s the secret to your success?” He would probably answer, “Planning and hard work is the key. You have to take time to study your field, set reasonable goals, smart planning, and eliminate wasting time on things and people that do not contribute to your goals, objectives, and plans.”

Vv. 18-19, “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. (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.”

Now we gain insight into how he thinks and what was his ultimate goal—his true motivation.

One thing that stands out to me is that he acknowledged that he had a soul. Many people today do not believe they have a soul. The soul of a person is the part of them that will live on forever in one of two places—heaven or hell. However, simply acknowledging that you have a soul will not save your soul. You need to recognize that your soul will perish unless your sin debt is paid. For the wages of sin is death.

Notice the self-centeredness of this man in his “I,” “my,” and “me” statements. He is very sure of himself. He has thought it through and strategically planned his next move and enjoyment. In fact, it seems to me that he was working all of this out as he slept. First thing in the morning, the plan would go into motion.

V. 20, “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?”

Here, Jesus states that God has a different view of this man. A man who has been the beneficiary of God’s goodness and grace, yet failed to recognize, honor, and obey God.

His trust was in material things which are all going to perish. As was described in the introduction when I referred to the rules of speed chess—the rich man had good position from a worldly perspective, but he ran out of time, and his flag has fallen. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

Jesus said that God said he was a fool. This is one of those “He said, He said moments.” And, he is a fool because God said he was a fool. God calls him a fool because in all his getting, he failed to get an understanding. But what is a fool? First of all, the question is not “what” but who. A fool is a person not any other being. God’s word gives a description of a fool:

Psalm 14:1, says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” He thought he had more time—even years, but God says to him, your time is up.

“This night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

This is the horrific part of the parable. Do you not see that the most important thing a person possesses is their soul. My soul is mine, your soul is yours, and we are responsible for it. We did not give our souls to ourselves. From God it came and to God it will return. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

V. 21, “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

This man is representative of the world’s message: “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” And, if you live your life as though this is all there is, and ignore the fate of your soul, biblically speaking, you are a fool! Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

Just a few Scriptures to shed some more light on the subject:

Job 27: 8 – “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, When God taketh away his soul?

Psalm 49:6-20 – “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; (7) None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (8) (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) (9) That he should still live forever, and not see corruption.

(10) For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. (11) Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

(12) Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. (13) This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. (14) Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

(15) But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. (16) Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; (17) For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

(18) Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. (19) He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. (20) Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.”

James 4:13-15 - “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (15) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Conclusion

We need to tell somebody “Don’t be a fool.” Let them know that their most important possession is their soul. And that their soul is in jeopardy of perishing because they are a sinner. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.

Tell them that there is only One Way, One Truth, and One Life available to save their perishing soul, and that grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone will save alone.

Tell them, that they are without excuse if they neglect so great a salvation.

Tell them, that there is only One Redeemer, and One Mediator between God and man—the man Jesus Christ, who hung out on Calvary’s cross to pay our sin debt that He did not owe, and we could not pay. While on the cross He declared that “It is finished.” He then hung His head in the locks of His shoulders and said, “Father into thy hands, I commend my spirit.”

He died and was buried in Joseph’s new tomb. But early, Sunday morning, while the dew was still on the rose, He rose from the dead for our justification with all power in heaven and in earth in His hands. And, declared that He possessed the keys of Hell and of death.

He could look at death and ask, where is your sting? To the grave He could ask, “Where is your victory?” For sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And all who believe that Christ is Lord and Savior have this great assurance that their soul is anchored in Him. Amen somebody. Just keeping it real.