Only a Fool Forgets!, by Dr. Aaron Lavender

Up to that time, our Saviour had been teaching the people about hypocrisy, and how they were to go about avoiding it (v. 1-3). In the midst of this teaching, a man interrupted Jesus to ask a question about his inheritance. He wanted Jesus to intervene between himself and his brother. This was a rude interruption, for the man evidently didn't think about what Jesus had said regarding the Father's care for His own (v. 6-7). There was no relation between the man's request and the teaching of Jesus. Our Lord's refusal to the man was in the form of a question, in which He revealed the fact that He was not in the world to be a judge of temporal matters such as these (v. 14). It was not Jesus' business to settle controversies such as this. In fact, the man was asking Jesus to violate the law of Moses. He wanted 50% (v. 13, "divided") of his father's estate. The law specifically stated that the older brother was due the largest portion of his father's inheritance (two-thirds, to be exact-Deuteronomy 21:15-17). This man was evidently coveting something that was not rightfully his. This sets the stage for Jesus Christ's words regarding the matter of covetousness, and His parable regarding the fool who forgot. Notice three things:

In these verses, Christ warns His disciples about the matter of covetousness. Notice what He says: "Take heed, and beware of covetousness..." In other words, He says, watch out. Be on guard against covetousness. Covetousness is a very serious matter.

The word "covet" comes from the Greek word epithumeo, and denotes "the fixing or desiring of things whether good or bad." In our Bible text it has to do with "inordinate desires." Covetousness is the desire for things that rightfully belong to someone else. It means to lust for things and to desire to have them regardless of how you may have to go about getting them. If it means lying, manipulating, stealing, or cheating, it doesn't really matter, just so long as you get what you desire.

After warning against covetousness, Jesus states the reason for the warning. Simply put, "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (v. 15). What Jesus says is that when all is said and done, the bottom line is that the success of any person cannot be measured in terms of what he has been able to accumulate. Man's real satisfaction in life does not depend on material possessions. It depends on his relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ, and whether or not he is glorifying Christ in all he does. Christ is not saying that being wealthy and having many possessions is sinful. Quite the contrary. He says that covetousness is sinful and ought to be avoided at all costs. Christ warns against covetousness.

Jesus proceeds to tell a parable (an earthly story with a heavenly meaning) to illustrate what He had warned against. The main subject of the parable is the actions and attitude of a rich man.

First, the man was rich (v. 16). This man was rich because he worked hard. The text does not say he received his riches through lying, defrauding, or some other erroneous means. His land was fertile and produced beyond his expectations. His wealth was received legitimately. This man was rich and successful through hard work.

Second, the man was self-centered (v. 17). In the presence of his multiplied prosperity, when his land was bringing forth more and more and wealth was piling up, he took time to sit down and think. Notice that he "thought within himself..." Three times in this verse he uses the personal pronoun... "What shall (I) do because (I) have no place to bestow (my) crops?" This man thought only of himself. He represents the Humanistic Viewpoint of our present day society, which says in effect, "to each his own, survival of the fittest, sink or swim."

Third, the man was self-deceived (vs. 18-19). The rich man was so wrapped up in himself because he had much goods that he made several false assumptions. He assumed that the human soul could be satisfied with material goods. He assumed that his material goods would last for many years. He assumed that he himself would be around to enjoy those material goods.

Fourth, the man was forgetful (vs. 20-21). That very night, the rich man had a visit from God Almighty. Notice the things the rich man forgot: (1) He forgot other people. Surely, he did not plant his gardens and fields by himself. Yet, it never occurred to him that maybe his servants could use some of his wealth. It was not necessary for him to build bigger barns. He had workers who could benefit from his abundance. (2) He forgot that man is more than what he owns. The rich man conceived of life only in terms of physical things. Here is where he made his mistake. He failed to distinguish between what a man has, and what a man is. What a man is (his character) is more important than what a man has (his possessions). (3) He forgot the true source of happiness. With the rich man's false concept of life came a false concept of happiness. He came to realize like countless number of others that happiness is not to be found in things. The rich man honestly thought he could be happy because of his wealth. (4) He forgot God. The greatest blunder of the rich man was that he did not take God into account. He did not take time out to include God in his affairs nor his plans. It is quite evident that the rich man was more concerned with what he owned than he was about God Who gave him the wisdom and strength to accumulate what he owned. . (5) He forgot about death. The rich man thought he was going to live a long time. How foolish can a man be? Here, we find the rich man planning for the future when he had but a few hours to live. He never contemplated the fact that one day he was going to die. His death came sooner than he ever anticipated.

What does all this mean today? Several things:

First of all, Christ warns us against covetousness. Let us learn about God's providential care for those who belong to Him. Christians must be satisfied with what they have been given. We are to guard ourselves against the sin of covetousness, and never allow the evil spirits of greed, envy, jealousy, or materialism to creep into our minds and hearts.

Second, Christ makes a folly of worldly mindedness. Do not be as the rich fool who was not rich toward God. He gave nothing to the glory of God. He was rich toward everything but God. He had plenty to give the world but nothing to give God. Christians are to never allow things to take the place that Christ demands. Christians must take to heart the words of Christ in Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these (material) things shall be added unto you."

Finally, Christ teaches us that being rich toward God is important. Christians ought to be rich toward God. When can it be said that a person is rich toward God? Never until he is rich in salvation; never until he is rich in good works; never until he is rich in holy living. Remember, only a fool forgets!