A parable is a fictitious story about a real truth. Aswe look at Luke chapter 12 we see that word, parable in verse 16.
Luke 12:16 And he spake a parableunto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: Jesuswill teach his listeners a fictitious truth on being selfish. What caught myattention was verse 15 the word “beware” which means to be on guard.Take heed and be on guard of a desire for possessions.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not inthe abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Beware of Covetousness; why should we be aware ofcovetousness? We should be aware of it because it’s a desire for possessionsand wealth. Now it’s not wrong to have wealth is it? No, but it is wrong tocovet.
Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt notcovet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor hisox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s. As we look onwe read
Luke 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do,because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luke 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and buildgreater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid upfor many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
How could this be covetousness? Remember thatcovetousness is a desire for possessions. As we read this fictitious storyabout a real truth about covetousness.
We see that he thought within himself, he didn’t askGod for advice or direction. Notice how much he was self centered by the use ofpersonal pronouns? He said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns: I bestowall my fruits and my goods: I will say to my soul. Covetousness is selfishness,it’s thinking that you deserve your neighbors house, it’s lusting after your neighborswife, his car, his job. Thinking you should have it rather than them, that isbeing selfish. Be on guard against that kind of thinking for it will never havea good ending; what did God have to say about that?
Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shallbe required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hastprovided?
We think we are going to be here for a long time, timeto spend, time to rest, time to enjoy, time to be merry, but in reality we donot know when our soul will be required, be careful ofbeing selfish!
Mark 8:36 Forwhat shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his ownsoul?
