Many people crowded about the Lord Jesus as He walked through the streets, so many that they pushed one another; they all wanted to see Him, or hear His words, or see a miracle done. Some wanted to ask something of Him.
One man asked Jesus to have his brother divide some property with him. It is not told that Jesus did that. He told the man not to covet (to wish for what another has). If the brothers were honest and not selfish, they could decide themselves what part each should have. If they coveted, wishing for more, they would not be satisfied, even if Jesus divided for them.
Jesus then told this story: “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 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. 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.”
No Thanks to God
You see this man was already rich, with plenty for himself, and when a new crop was harvested he had no room to keep it. The word “fruit” as used here, meant what grew on his land, probably grain, which could be stored in dry buildings and kept a long time.
The man thought he would not need to work any more, and he would just have a good time. You notice he did not speak of thanking God for his good crop. Since he had so much, would it not have been kind and right for him to find out if his neighbors and those who worked for him had enough food? But he did not do that; he thought only of himself, and not that all belonged to God, even his own breath.
Jesus told what God said to that man; it was, “Thou fool [one who is not wise to believe God], this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?”
The man was to die that night; could he take any of his grain or supplies with him? No, none at all. He should have used them to honor God and to help others. The Lord Jesus said that all who save or use only for themselves, with no love for God, are like that rich farmer.
Further Meditation
1. Who did the rich man credit for his wonderful crop?
2. A spirit of thanksgiving and recognition of God’s mercies is a wonderful one to cultivate. What are some of the mercies and blessings which God has revealed to us in His Word?
3. Praise to God is a wonderful daily habit. You will be encouraged in it by the short booklet His Praise Shall Continually Be in My Mouth by J. N. Darby.