Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 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.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Introduction This passage addresses concerns all men normally have. We have been entrusted with wives and children, and must provide for them in this world in this age. This causes us to be concerned about things like inheritance (v13), arbitration (v14), possessions (v15), advantage (v15), success (v16), planning (v17), facilities (v18), security (v19), finally having it made (v19), providing (v20), laying up treasure (v21).

But many times we get so involved in the things of this life, surviving in this age that we forget about eternal things like: what life really consists of (v15), the soul (v19), the fact that our souls will be required of us (v20), being rich toward God (v21).

So even though we are trying to be wise, good husbands and fathers, sometimes we end up being foolish (v20). 20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool!

Bottom line - we need to think ahead - to eternity.

1. A Man’s Soul - earthly (v19), eternal (v20)

a. Earthly v19
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.”’

Soul = psuche - psyche, heart, emotions, desires, will, decisions, determination, drive. What he is about. On Earth the soul can relax, enjoy eating, drinking, being merry.

b. Eternal v20
20 “But 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 eternal soul can also do v19 but in the new Heaven and Earth. This is a man’s soul.

2. A Man’s Life

This passage addresses concerns all men normally have. We have been entrusted with wives and children, and must provide for them in this world in this age. This causes us to be concerned about things like:

a. Inheritance (v13)

13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Or the lottery, or when my ship comes in, or when I get my big break. The idea of suddenly receiving a large amount of money I didn’t work for.

b. Arbitration (v14)

14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

How many judges, lawyers, arbitrators are there? Even in our sports - Referees.

c. Possessions (v15)

15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

He who dies with the most toys wins, or still dies. The older you get, the more stuff.

d. Advantage (v15)

15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Covetousness - wanting what someone else has, seeking the upper hand, to have the advantage, the power and influence. In wrestling and business - just self preservation.

e. Success (v16)
16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

We love it when that happens. Nothing succeeds like success.

f. Planning (v17)
17 “And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

Thinking ahead for what’s best. Sharpen your pencil.

g. Facilities (v18)

18 “So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

Call the General, General Steel Buildings. Or rearrange, new equipment, provide space or time or opportunity for something. To be able to go with the flow and make beneficial changes.

h. Security (v19)
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.”’

I just want to be secure, comfortable, not have to be stressed all the time.

i. Finally having it made (v19)
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.”’

j. Providing (v20)
20 those things be which you have provided?’

k. Laying up treasure (v21)
21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself,”

So these are some things most men, in their souls, are concerned about in this life.

3. A Man’s Death - when does an inheritance become an issue? v13, 20

13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

20 “But 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 guy asking the question was concerned about receiving an inheritance. Jesus tells him to also think about the day he will be leaving one to someone else.

Being concerned only about the material things of this life, as noble as it is to provide for wife, kids, grandkids, employees, to become as wealthy and secure as possible, if it’s only that, and we do not consider eternity, is absolute foolishness, with eternal consequences.

The day is coming for every man when his soul will be required of him.

4. A Man’s Eternal Life v15, 21

a. What does a good and full life consist of? v15

15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

What does a good and full life consist of? A life which prepares a man not only to live now, but to live forever.

b. What does it mean to be rich toward God? v21

21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

How can we be rich toward God? How do you buy for someone who has everything?

What are the things God is concerned about in this age? Things which are not just for this age, but things which will prepare us for the age to come - souls. So faith, love for God and people, witnessing, praying, ministries, giving to help others.

In His Kingdom to provide our presence, prayers, gifts and service. Setting a good example of being a Christian man, husband, father, grandfather, friend. Devoted to Christ and His kingdom.

That’s what it means to be rich toward God. It has a profound effect on a man’s eternity, and it vastly improves even this life, because you’re giving your time, effort and resources to something which is far and away more important than anything else.

I always wanted to give my whole life to the kingdom of God, to helping people, showing them God’s love, and the salvation of their souls. To glorify Him in this life on this Earth, and then to be ready for eternal life.

Conclusion So make an honest evaluation of my soul, life, upcoming death and eternal life.

Are we more concerned, more faithful to this age, or the age to come?

We as men, husbands, fathers, grandfathers need to trust the Lord, be rich toward Him, seek first His kingdom and righteousness, have our souls in good shape, then all these other things will also be provided of us and our families, and we will be ready for the night when our souls are required of us.

Matthew 6
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 “Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. 24 “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 “And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 26 “If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 “If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? 29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 “But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 “and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.