JESUS TELLS “THE PARABLE OF THE “BARNS”
One of the people listening to Jesus teach in the Temple asks Him if He will “speak to my brother” in order that his brother will divide his inheritance with him. Jesus tells the man that He did not come to be “a judge or a divider over” the people. He also warns the man to beware of covetousness, for a man’s life does not revolve around the things that he does or does not own. To demonstrate this wisdom, Jesus provides the man and those gathered before Him in the Temple with a parable.
Luke 12:13-21And one of the company said unto Him, “Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.” And He said unto him, “Man, who made Me a judge or a divider over you?” And He said unto them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness for a man’s life consisteth not in abundance of the things which he possesseth.” And He spake a parable unto them saying, “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 I will do. I will pull down my barns and build greater and there I will 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, ‘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.”
The lesson provided by Jesus in the parable is perfectly clear. The treasures that we “lay up” for ourselves are meaningless. The treasures that have value are those that are laid up for God. If our treasures are not “rich toward God,” we will be considered a “fool,” and the Lord may very well “require” our soul “this very night.”
We should pay close attention to the Words of Jesus!