Daily Encouragement

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Friday, April 1, 2005

"Foolish Living"

"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:20, 21).

Today is April Fool's Day. I'm not sure how this custom came about, but I sure remember the pranks growing up! Brooksyne already pulled one on me this morning and I fell for it! She called out in panic that there was water under the kitchen sink. I went downstairs and got my flashlight, positioned myself on the floor next to the cabinet and began taking everything out. I began looking for the source of the leak as she looked on, appearing to be very aggravated by the situation. Well, as it turns out there was no leak. I was fooled.

Today let's examine the man in the Bible God called a "fool". I carefully probe this portion of Scripture and wonder why God called this man a "fool". After all, he was a successful businessman; working hard, prospering and planning ahead for retirement. Isn't that good? Isn't that the American way?

But God calls this man "a fool" and so many live like him. His goal was bigger barns, temporal pleasure and security. Life's energy was expanded in this pursuit (the entire parable is told in Luke 12:16-21*). When he felt like he had attained this goal he would lean back and say, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."

But that very night his life was demanded of him. Jesus ends the parable with this probing statement. "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).

The man's problem was twofold:
1) He was self-sufficient. He said to himself "you have plenty of good things laid up for many years" (v. 19). He forgot that God was in charge. It's God that gives us the ability to create wealth and our lives are in His hands. Fools believe they control their own destiny.

2) He was not "rich toward God" (v. 21). He did not use his resources for God but instead selfishly built bigger barns. I need to consider: Am I a kingdom builder or a barn builder? Am I "rich toward God"?

What's your fundamental outlook on life today? Are you storing up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal?" (Matthew 6:19). Or are you storing up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal? (Matthew 6:20).

Today let us commit ourselves to being "rich toward God"! Let us seek first His Kingdom! Let us build our lives on the solid rock of God and be like the person whom Jesus called the "wise man" (Matthew 7:24).

Be encouraged today,

Stephen C. Weber

Note from Brooksyne: Just a word of caution to readers today who enjoy pulling April Fool's jokes. Make sure you pull a joke or prank on someone that doesn't have the possibility of backfiring. Unfortunately I didn't think about the fact that after Stephen discovered there was no water under the kitchen sink that he wasn't about to return the stored items to their proper place – that was my job. So I ended up pay a price for my ill-intended prank. The good part of it is that it the cabinet did need cleaned out – I just hadn't planned on that this morning.

Personal Note: As a family we are really looking forward to attending a Christian concert this evening with Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, and Chris Thomlin. It has been many years since I have been to a large concert like this and since I am sure not one for big crowds I'm not sure what to expect. It's at a large arena in Hershey, PA called the "Giant Center". This is one of Ester's 16th birthday presents and she is so excited!

Around the corner from my home is a farm with a new batch of little lambs. I snapped this photo of them feeding in the pasture.

* Luke 12:16-21

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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