Luke 12:16-21
The Parable
“Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?” So he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?”’”
The Lord’s explanation
“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Lesson
This man was focused on the world; he thought that he was set for years to come, as he had ample supplies for the future. But he had no future. His concern was on the things of the world, which are not a guarantee, and he had neglected to prepare his soul for the judgment, which is certainly coming for us all.
As with Martha and Mary, Luke 10:38-42, it is better to prepare for eternity, than for temporal things. As Solomon said, “All is vanity,” but as Paul wrote, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 15:58.