Luke 12:13-20 Then someone called from the crowd, “Sir, please tell my brother to divide my father’s estate with me.” But JESUS relied, “Man, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich you are.” Then HE gave an illustration: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing---he couldn’t get everything in. He thought about his problem, and finally exclaimed, ‘I know---I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones! Then I’ll have room enough. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “Friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Wine, women, and song for you!” ’ But GOD said to him, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. Then who will get it all?’ “Yes, every man [person] is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven.” [Living Bible translation]
Summary
JESUS spoke and taught in parables. HE used simple stories to illustrate spiritual or moral lessons.
The story which JESUS tells in Luke 12:13-20 is called “The Parable of the Rich Fool.” The Bible has a lot to say about fools:
- Fools act like GOD does not exist. Psalms 14:1 states: “The fool says in his [or her] heart, “There is no GOD.”
- Fools are loud, undisciplined and are talk as if they “know it all.” Proverbs 9:13 states “A foolish woman [or man] is loud, she [or he] is undisciplined and without knowledge.” Ecclesiastes 10:12-13 states: “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.”
- Fools are prideful. Proverbs 14:3 states “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride…”
- Fools don’t listen and reject wise advice. Proverbs 23:9 states “Do not speak to a fool, for he [or she] will scorn the wisdom of your words.”
In the parable a rich man, who instead of feeling thankful for the abundant blessings and bountiful harvest that GOD had given him, looked at his situation and saw “a problem.” Neither grateful nor feeling blessed, the man had a “hoarding problem” or a “storage problem.” He couldn’t fit what he saw as “all of his stuff” into “his barn.” Rather than take “all of his problems to GOD, he rejected the wisdom of GOD and turned to “his own understanding.” He had a “me, myself and I” conversation about what “he would do” and how “he would live.”
Without any consideration for GOD or anyone else (e.g. his neighbors, the poor or other who might be in need of food), without any thought of tithing to the church or helping anyone else, without any consideration for family or GOD’s teachings, the man decided to plan within himself. So, he said to himself:
1. I will tear down my barns.
2. I will build bigger barns for myself.
3. When I am finished, I will sit back, stare at what I have done, pat myself on the back and just relax because I have enough to take care of myself for years to come.
4. I will just party---wine, women and whatever----forever
The man thought he had a storage problem, but what he really had was a “foolishness” problem. He acted as if GOD did not exist. He talked as if he knew it all. He was prideful, self-centered, selfish and was rejecting the wisdom of GOD, by not even consulting GOD.
That night “the fool” died with no plans for eternal life. He had “stored” nothing for eternity. All of his preparation had been for his earthly life.
STORING FRUITS and VEGETABLES
In her article “Ten Fruits and Vegetables You’re Storing Wrong,” Candy Sagon offers a number of helpful suggestions for storage:
- Fruits and vegetables don’t store well together. Many fruits produce ethylene gas, which acts as a ripening agent and can speed spoilage.
- Washing fruits and vegetables before storing them makes them more likely to spoil because dampness can encourage the growth of bacteria. It is best to wash the fruit and vegetables right before use.
- Garlic: store at room temperature in an open container to allow air circulation. Don’t tear off the papery husk until you are ready to prep.
- Potatoes: keep in a dark and cool place. Don’t refrigerate. The cool, damp air in the refrigerator will cause the starches in the potato to turn to sugar, affecting taste and texture.
- Asparagus: Trim about a half of an inch off the end of the stalks of asparagus and stand them up in a small amount of water, (covered loosely in a plastic bag) in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for about four days. Trim the ends again before using.
- Carrots: Remove the green tops—they draw off the moisture and will cause the carrot to go limp. One trimmed, unpeeled carrots can be stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator for about two weeks. Trimmed carrots (e.g. baby carrots or carrot sticks) can be stored in a tightly filled container of water in the refrigerator, but remember to change the water frequently.
- Cucumbers: They tend to not like the cold. If you refrigerate them, use in three days. They are also sensitive to ethylene gas, so keep them away from tomatoes, melons and bananas.
- Celery: To keep crisp wrap tightly in aluminum foil, not plastic wrap, so ethylene gas can escape. Re-wrap tightly after each use. Store celery stick like carrot sticks submerged in water.
- Tomatoes: Some experts suggest storing stem side down. Once they ripen at room temperature, eat them at peak flavor. They tend not to last long in the refrigerator. Cold breaks down their cell structure and make them mushy.
See, “Ten Fruits and Vegetables You’re Storing Wrong,” by Candy Sagon, October 21, 2014.
Listen to the message and THE MESSENGER
Many have grown up in “small circumstances,” ---narrow closets, one bathroom, “church shoes and school shoes,” “church clothes and school clothes,” little or no bank accounts, one family car. Now, there are “storage problems.”
There are so many in need around us. People are living on sidewalks. People are living in parks and in cars. Children are going without a good breakfast or without three meals a day. Many have weathered storms and adversities and have little or nothing.
Matthew 11:15 states: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” The Living Bible’s translation is: “If ever you were willing to listen, listen now!”
Today, pray for a listening heart. Today, listen to THE MASTER’s parables. Pray we get the message.
Pray for wisdom. Pray for less foolishness. And, BE BLESSED!
