Church History: 16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
The design and scope in this parable, is to show men the vileness and vanity of the sin of covetousness, or an eager and insatiable desire after the things of this world. When men heap up riches, and lay up treasures in this life, taking no care to be rich towards God in faith and good works, Christ illustrates this by the parable of a rich man, whom God had blessed with great wealth. Yet his desire of more wealth was never satisfied, but he is projecting how he may lay up goods in store for many years.
Observations:
1. The parable does not intimate any indirect and unjust ways of gain which this man used to increase his estate, but condemns his insatiable desire and thirst after more. It is told to us so that we may learn, that we should not have an eager and inordinate desire after the things of this world. even though it is free from injustice, and does not hurt others, it is one species, or kind, of the sin of covetousness.
2. How this rich man looked no farther than himself, not looking upon himself as God's steward, but in his own interest; he cries out, What shall I do because I have no room where to lay my fruits? He did not consider that the houses of the poor should have been his granaries for the abundance of his increase. Charity to those in need is the best way of bestowing our abundance. God's extraordinary bounty is to be laid out for the relief of others, not for the gratifying of our own luxurious desires.
3. The brand of infamy which the wise God fixes upon this covetous rich man: Thou fool, says God. It is an act and instance of the most self serving folly imaginable, for persons to spend their time and strength in getting and laying up treasure upon earth; in the mean time neglecting to be rich towards God in faith and good works.
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