PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL

1. COVETOUSNESS is the graveyard of those who choose to eat their cake and have it, as it is written: “He that FINDETH HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT: and he that LOSETH HIS LIFE for my sake SHALL FIND IT” [Matthew 10:39] When we come to God through Jesus Christ, we must give up our “OLD LIFE”, that we should no longer live according to the passion of the FLESH, “That ye PUT OFF concerning the former conversation the OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT according to the DECEITFUL LUSTS” Ephesians 4:22] PUTTING OFF the OLD MAN is the life-long experience of growing the NEW MAN in the likeness of Jesus Christ; diligently removing every thought that glorifies SELF, “CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and BRINGING into CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT to the OBEDIENCE of CHRIST” [2Corinthians 10:5] CASTING DOWN all IMAGINATIONS contrary to God and bringing every THOUGHT in CAPTIVITY to Christ, require we do away with COVETOUSNESS, “… Take heed, and BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” [Luke 12:15]

2. There was a RICH MAN in the Bible, who in spite of his RICHES was a FOOL, “… My power and the MIGHT OF MINE HAND hath gotten me this WEALTH" he was wrong, as it is written: "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for IT IS HE THAT GIVETH THEE POWER TO GET WEALTH, …“ [Deuteronomy 8:17-18] HARD WORK is commendable and perhaps he worked harder than his peers, he surely had no control over nature; God gave the INCREASE, “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and WHAT HAST THOU THAT THOU DIDST NOT RECEIVE? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” [1 Corinthians 4:7] With every harvest, he became increasingly convinced his competence was the reason for his wealth, but God was not done with him. He gave him a LAST CHANCE; a barn-bursting harvest, way beyond his calculation, “And he THOUGHT WITHIN HIMSELF, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?“ [Luke 12:17] This was his LAST CHANCE and he goofed, taking THOUGHT with HIMSELF to administer the GOODNESS of God. We are all God’s husbandry, He owns us; to SPEND and be SPENT according to His PURPOSE. Every time we manage His BLESSINGS outside His COUNSEL, we are guilty of COVETOUSNESS, inextricably entangled in slavery to death, “For he that SOWETH TO HIS FLESH shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that SOWETH TO THE SPIRIT shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” [Galatians 6:8]

3. God wants you to be SAVED more than He wants you to be RICH, “For what is a man profited, if he shall GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, and LOSE HIS SOUL? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” [Matthew 16:26] Your SOUL is the preferred habitation of God, the RICH MAN would not foolishly denied Him, reasoning thus; “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” [Luke 12:19] Those who are BORN AGAIN willingly gave their SOULS to the Lord, it is no longer yours to suffocate with LUST and diverse sensory pleasures, “Know ye not that ye are the TEMPLE of God, and that the SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU?” [1 Corinthians 3:16] It is prudent, therefore, to BEWARE of some who peddle COVETOUSNESS as GAIN for serving God. This they do, twisting Scriptures to entice you with “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, SUPPOSING THAT GAIN IS GODLINESS: from such withdraw thyself” [1 Timothy 6:5] Listen carefully, Jesus did not make a millionaire out of His twelve Apostles; He did not die to make any man a millionaire and His PROMISES are not measurable in dollars. Those who teach you to COVET material GAIN as proof of GODLINESS also extort money from you with promises of “BLESSING”. WHY, they are COVETOUS; "And through COVETOUSNESS shall they with feigned words MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not” [2 Peter 2:3]

4. COVETOUSNESS is the pastime of FOOLS, a rat race to acquire more and more of this world, without a THOUGHT of the hereafter, “Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth” [Isaiah 5:8] The RICH MAN in our PARABLE was busy making plans for bigger storehouses, “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?“ [Luke 12:20] If he knew his SOUL would be retrieved that night, he may have amended His ways. What about you? There is no official timetable for death; do not allow your SOUL to be overwhelmed with worries of what to EAT, DRINK or WEAR “… for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” [Matthew 6:32-33] If you haven’t, accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today; WORK HARD and HONESTLY too, be content with what you HAVE or HAVE NOT and allow no man to trouble your SOUL with PROSPERITY OF FOOLS, “For WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THIS WORLD, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having FOOD and RAIMENT LET US BE THEREWITH CONTENT” [1 Timothy 6:7-8] WATCH and PRAY, that you are not DISTRACTED from imminent appearance of the Lord by COVETOUSNESS, for no “… COVETOUS MAN, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” [Ephesians 5:5]