Here is a parable that surprises us with its disregard for the processes of the commercial world. The parable is triggered by  someone in a crowd accompanying the Lord Yeshua inviting the Lord to order the division, the redistribution of the family inheritance.   To which the Lord replied, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Then He said to the crowd, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” (Luke 12:13-15, NASB).

Abundance of goods is hardly life

Yeshua told them a parable, saying,

• “The land of a rich man was very productive.
  • And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’
    • WHAT HE DOES.Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 
    • WHAT HE SAYS. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; 
  • take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ 
• But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ 

Based on the opening line a person needs to be aware of how positivity or increased productivity can negatively affect him.  Apparently, the landowner crossed the line.  His planning and self-talk were defining.  When the sun rose the next day he had nothing.  As the saying goes, he departed this life with as much as when he arrived. It goes to show that God judges people by what they say, even to themselves. Based on the closing lines, more of everything and greed for it brings attention that does not end well. We need to clean up our self-talk.  Our self-talk can sink our boat.

So is the man who // this is what happens to selfish and greedy people.  Business men should pay attention to their plans for increasing production with the proceeds not destined for others.  

So is the man who 

• (a) stores up treasure for himself, and 

• (b) is not rich toward God.”” (Luke 12:16-21, NASB)

Perhaps it is better to have no pillow, no business, no investments that might constitute a temptation to build bigger warehouses.  In conclusion, we might take another look at the lesson about the difficulty of rich persons finding a way into God’s kingdom.  This parable is about a person in one of the few risky situations affecting kingdom access.   This person could be any believer who sees himself as rich without actually being rich.