And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
And he thought within himself, saying, 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.
But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou has provided?
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Classification: Reversal of human judgment, as to just and unjust
Narrative: A man asked for Jesus' help in getting his brother to divide the inheritance with him. Jesus wondered when did he become a judge of such earthly matters. He then exhorted the audience to not worry so much about earthly wealth with this parable.
Interpretation: The man acquired, through his own labors, a substantial amount of wealth. He decided to hoard his goods, his wealth, and live out the rest of his days in comfort and ease. The only problem is he didn't know how quickly he was to die.
The parable seems to suggest to me that his goods would then go to waste, no good for anybody. Whether this means his accumulated wealth is hidden from anyone else or he had no heirs to take over, I don't know.
Application: Share what we have while we are alive. The problem of some having more than others is a problem that has always been around and always will be. The socialists of the world hold rich people up as an example to show that socialism is the better way to live. But, even Jesus doesn't spell out for us how to divide our earthly possessions. Consider how much greater we grow towards God when we choose to share what we have, rather than having it forced upon us. It may be that those who have abundance seem to keep rather than give, but that is their choice. If I were rich I don't know that I would do any better.
Money is a tricky thing. You have to have it. There is no way to survive this world without it. You need money! Knowing when you have more than you need is a very tricky game. Who doesn't want to store up for retirement? Who doesn't want to provide for their children the best opportunities they can? Who doesn't want to take their families on fun vacations? We all want that. Knowing when to let go of some of the goods requires a close connection with Heavenly Father to be able to receive those personal revelations that let us know when we need to be better at sharing with others.
But the laws of agency cannot be altered in the name of equal distribution of wealth.
I do not possess a lot of money but I am rich in other ways. I wonder if I share those resources well. My testimony is strong. Do I share it well? Some days I have an abundance of time. Do I spend that time well, or do I fritter it away? I can be a better friend to people than I already am. Do I share my love, or do I hold that back too much? I have spiritual gifts (as we all do) and am I sharing them well?
D&C 46:11-12 "For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby."
We must always remember that everything we have is because of our loving Heavenly Father. He would have us share but we must be able to choose for ourselves or our growth would not possible.
"Become Rich Toward God" by Rex D. Pinegar
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| Parable of the Rich Fool, or, The Money Changer 1627, Rembrandt |
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