The Rich Fool - Frank Brancato

As we continue to study The Parables of Jesus and I will say

that I've enjoyed greatly the study of these Parables, we can

look to the Christian life and all things that we do in our

life and we can find that Jesus brings about just about

everything in The Parables that he talked so long ago.

But in all of those Parables that we discussed, I believe

that we can rightfully say that the parable of the Good

Samaritan was perhaps one of the most practical of all of The

Parables, the reason for that is it gives you and I practically

something that we can do in our life.

But, you know, also very rightfully.

So I find that we can look to the one that we're going to

discuss this morning. The one entitled, the rich fool,

Ooh, and we can consider it also as being very, very practical in

our life. You know, I believe that there

are many valuable lessons that are found in this Parable and I

find also that it's extremely timely today.

You know, we might think that over time we would sort of

outgrow lessons like the one that we're going to talk about

today. I mean after all after we come

up out of the Waters of baptism and then over time as we grow As

those that are in the body of Christ, shouldn't there come a

time when we no longer have to discuss?

The topic that we're going to discuss this morning for just a

little while. I am convinced as Jesus so long

ago, stood before those masses and preach this very sermon and

gave this very address to those that were there.

It was extremely applicable to them on that day.

But I would also say that if it were possible for you and I to

Sit at the very feet of the king.

If he could literally stand before us and preach to us this

very same sermon, I believe, with all of my heart, it would

apply to you. And I today, you know, Jesus on

this occasion was preaching. One of his greatest sermons, he

was preaching about some of those things that you would

think that people that were there in attendance, those that

heard him would be right at the edge of their seats, as it were,

in terms of I used that as an example.

Sure. Surely there were none but those

that were there were standing before Jesus.

And he talks about things that you would think are extremely

important. He spoke about heaven, can you

imagine a greater topic of Hope then Heaven, you know, sometimes

we talk about living the Christian Life and we fail to

recognize what we get. Sometimes we fail to realize

what the benefits of living the Christian Life, really are so

many times. People look at the Christian

life and they say all, look at all the things that I have to

give up in order that I might be.

A Christian failing to see. The reason that we do so is

because the benefit of heaven, but, you know, Jesus on that day

spoke of something else. He spoke about hell.

He spoke about the other side. If a person is not going to live

Faithfully unto death, what's going to happen to that soul?

That soul is going to find himself in a devil's, hell for

all eternity. Listen, they perhaps might have

been the two greatest subjects that he possibly.

So we could have chose to speak to them about talking about

heaven and how we ought to hang in there for just a little

while, until time shall be no more, and we can have the

wonderful blessing of the hope of heaven.

But also don't fall, don't fall and don't be weakened by the

sinful things of the Flesh, and by the worldliness that is all

around you. Because if you do, there's only

one other alternative to Heaven, that be him.

You know, he spoke about the deity of Christ himself.

As the Son of God. He spoke to them about things

that they had never heard before.

He speaks to them about blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Yes, indeed. These were things that he said

were very, very important. I want you to picture if you can

and your mind's eye this city. I don't know how many people

were there that day, that were congregated around Jesus when he

spoke these words, I really don't.

But I know this that the things that He said, prior to our text

this morning, he was preaching this sermon to them on these

subjects and right in the very midst of this crowd, that was

gathered at the feet of Jesus. All of a sudden.

Now, there's a man in the audience and he says this, he

says, tell me He says Master meaning teacher.

Would you make my brother? Give me my inheritance.

You think you can talk to him? That picture that that has

absolutely nothing to do with what Jesus is speaking about?

Oh no doubt, this man looked at Jesus as a man of authority, and

when Jesus spoke, he spoke as a great man of authority, that is

true. But here was a man that was not

listening to what Jesus was saying.

He was not listening to his preaching, you know, I often

wonder how many times when we stand here in this position?

Those that are preachers of the gospel, and those that are

teachers of the Gospel. I often wonder, as we look out

over the crowd, I've wondered how much are they really

understanding? What I'm saying you ever done

that? Those of you fellows, that

teach, have you ever asked yourself?

Are they really listening? Are they really grasping what

I'm saying or is their mind somewhere else?

You know, this made me think of that when this man and the crowd

before the greatest man that ever lived.

He wasn't listening to Jesus at all.

Oh, he was there. He was sitting there that day or

standing there that day, but his mind was on something else, but

I often wonder as we look across the crowd, you know, when it's

amazing, what we can see from up here, as we look across the

audience. It's amazing.

And I often times Wonder as I do.

So how much are they really listening?

How much are they really paying attention?

Tension. Do they really want to hear what

God's word says? But you know what I thought

about? I thought about this and I

understand this, I understand that people can be in the

audience hearing me, and I can really understand why they'd

want to tune me out. I can understand why people

might think it's Frank again. We got to listen to him again, I

can understand that. I really can But I'm going to

tell you something, I can't fathom the person that would be

in the very presence of the greatest man that ever lived.

The greatest teacher that ever was the King of Kings, the Lord

of lords, and the Lamb of God, that was going to die for the

sins of the world. When he's preaching about

things, as important as he was, I can't fathom how there'd be

even one person in his midst. That wouldn't pay attention.

I guess we shouldn't feel too bad.

Those of us that stand up here because you know what?

This fellow did it in the presence of Jesus on this

occasion. This was the case as he was

preaching, all of a sudden he just blurts out, Master speak to

my brother that he divide the inheritance with me.

You know, this doesn't have anything to do with the subject

that Jesus was speaking about. And it seems that in the very

midst of hearing all of these great things.

He's sitting there Thinking about something else.

How many times do we do that all were there were assembled

together, but our minds and our hearts are somewhere else.

Now this man understood Deuteronomy chapter 21, with

Deuteronomy 21 · chapter mention

reference to inheritance this man.

No doubt had a had a father that had passed away and this man had

a brother at least or he had a sibling that was older than he

was. And so he understood Deuteronomy

21 that the inheritance of the father would come two-thirds

proportioned to the eldest and then the rest would be dispersed

among the rest of his siblings in that family.

Oh, no doubt. He understood that.

And when Jesus would speak with such great Authority, he's

thought, well, you know what, I've got a problem and I needed

to sort it out. I'll just ask this man of great

Authority. By the way, as he might have

raised his hand, we don't know, but he blurts out.

Can you speak to my brother? Because he is not doing what he

knows he should do in spreading The Inheritance around?

You know, listen to what really is happening here.

He came there that day and for some reason decided to listen

to, or at least be in the presence of Jesus.

The problem is, though he was so obsessed by material things and

by the fact that he might not get what he thinks he has coming

to him so we simply cannot listen.

You know, I think this is worthy to note that our Lord dispatch

has this very very quickly. He quickly States man who made

me a judge or divider over you You know, I don't think for one

minute that the Lord was saying that there's anything wrong with

material things. I don't want you to

misunderstand me this morning either because Jesus was not

saying that there's anything wrong with material things,

especially in particular the response that he made.

When he said man, who gave me the Authority or who put me

judge or arbitrator over your financial matters.

You see, he was going to prove a A point.

But his point was not that you can't have things in the flesh

that you cannot have material things.

Secondly, I also don't think that what he was saying is,

there's anything wrong with judges, or arbitrators, that

would sit down and decipher a mounts that ought to be spread

around by way of inheritance. No, that's not.

What Jesus was talking about. You see Jesus was simply saying

that's not the reason that I came into the world.

You know, if our greatest need had been financial matters.

If our greatest need was money, God In His Infinite.

Wisdom would have sent us an economist He just sent us a

financial advisor. He would have sent us someone

that could guide us financially. if that was our greatest need,

But our greatest need was salvation.

So he sent us a savior. That's what Jesus is talking to

this man about I'm not the judge over these matters.

Let somebody else take care of that.

I came to seek and save that, which is lost.

He came to save the souls of men and he wants us to understand

that there's bigger and better and higher things than money.

He speaks to us about the real vital issues of life.

He speaks to us today in the sermon about one of the greatest

foes that is against us. Today, and that is materialism.

Oh, I would ask you to carefully, listen to what I have

to say because I sometimes think that we cast it aside, as well

as just another preacher preaching on materialism and

preaching on things, and in this world and preaching against

money and so on. Because listen, that is not what

I'm doing, and that's not what Jesus did either.

So long ago, Jesus never said there was anything wrong with

having money. Jesus never did say that it was

wrong to go out and work with your hands and be blessed.

Just because of the fruits of your labor, he never said there

was nothing wrong with that. In fact, Jesus said that a man

that doesn't go out and provide for his family has denied.

The faith and is worse than an Infidel.

There's nothing wrong with working hard.

In fact, we are supposed to do that.

In fact, if you look at the other side of the coin as it

were laziness, is something that will cause you to lose your soul

laziness and not being occupied on productive, things will cause

you to stumble and fall in this life.

So there is nothing wrong with working and laboring all the

days of your life and being blessed with the reward of

having been compensated for your labor.

Nothing wrong with that at all. Jesus didn't say that we have to

be poverty-stricken. He didn't say we couldn't have a

nice home. He didn't say we couldn't have

cars and Automobiles that bring us from point A to point B, he

didn't say that he never said those things and so if he didn't

say that and we're talking about materialism today.

What was his point? What did he really mean when he

gave this Parable so long ago, Well, first of all, Jesus

introduces us to a rich man, and this man was evidently well off

financially. Now, this man might have been a

farmer, I don't know, or he might have just been a big

landowner, but at any rate this was a man that had spent some

time in his life working, he had spent some time in his life

understanding that he had to take care of the physical

provision of his family that he had to go out and provide for

them and we can assume That because of his age as described

here that he had a family. And so here it was that this man

goes out and he works all the days of his life.

All of a sudden as he's been working so hard.

He looks out and he finds that the fruit of the crops, the

fruit of his labor produced in such great abundance.

That his barns are too small to store.

What he has is there anything wrong with that?

Is there anything wrong with having that problem?

You know, if we were in business we think that's the greatest

problem to have. Can you imagine if you were in

business and all of a sudden you had in Surplus, paid for you had

an overabundance of it and it was all paid for whatever you

might sell it. For would be profit, straight

profit to you as the owner of that merchandise, whatever it

might be. There's not a businessman in the

world that would look at that. Ants and say, there was anything

wrong with that. In fact, that's what we shoot

for in business, is it not? Well, here's the problem.

He decides. Well, I've got to do something

and here's my dilemma. It's all going to go to waste

because my barns are too small and they're going to be too full

here. It was.

Jesus said this man says as he comes to this information, he

says, I'm going to pull down my barns.

I'm going to tear them down, and I'm going to build bigger barns.

Well, I'll tell you that. Awful wise to me here, verses 17

and 18 of our text. And he thought within himself

saying, what shall I do? Because I have no room where to

bestow my fruits and he said this will I do I will pull down

my Barns and build greater and there will I bestow all my

fruits and my goods. He not only wants to build

greater barns to store his crops but he also wants to retire and

enjoy the fruits of his labor for many many years.

Look at verse, 19, please where it says and ice will say to my

soul. Soul, thou Hast much Goods.

Laid up for many years. Here's the problem.

Here comes take thine ease. Eat drink and be merry.

You know, I know some folks that are retired and I think it's

great. I know some folks that are

retired and I'm so happy for them.

They are reaping the fruit or the benefit of what they've

worked for in their life. But they're not guilty like this

man. You know why?

What was the problem after all? Didn't he plan for his

retirement? And that all, we'll all he was

doing. Well, notice what happens.

He says, I'll build bigger barns.

I'll have all of this Surplus and I am going to say I am at

ease. Now I am finished everything

that I've done before is no longer.

I don't have to do that anymore and I have no other

responsibilities from this day forward.

What am I going to do? I'm going to look at my Surplus

and I'm going to say to my soul. He said, so you can now you can

rest now, you can sit back now, you can do nothing.

And you can reap the benefit of those crops and that fruit

that's in those barns right now. And he says, for many, many

years, Sometimes people say, you know, the half the more things

that I have, the more possessions that I have, the

more happiness, I will have. But you know, in summary thus

far this man assumes that his life consists in the abundance

of things that he possesses. He thinks that happiness is

proportionate to the things that he has, but, you know, the

foolishness and selfishness of this rich man is seen in that he

fails to realize that his body. He is mortal and he will not

necessarily live on, for many years.

He doesn't consider that. The rich is really cannot

satisfy his soul. He does not consider the needs

of others at all. He doesn't consider the needs of

the poor. They are never taken into

consideration. He thinks only of himself and

over all of the accomplishments that he's made in his life and

never thanks wants to thank God and glorify him for He has

blessed him with, you know, for all practical purposes, this man

might just be an atheist. You know why?

Because God was never in his plans.

That's really the problem. But if God, or if one truly

believes in God, he would respond like the psalmist.

David who said in Psalms 1, 16 and 12.

What, shall I Render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward

me? Oh, would that we would all do

that. We would look to the things that

we have in our life and glorify God, because of those things.

And thank God and praise God. Realizing that the more that we

are blessed with, in this I have two more that's required and

expected of us as well. Also understanding this many

times, when people have possessions or have large sums

of money, they are looked upon as an example, from others, what

a wonderful opportunity that it might be for us in living our

life in such a way that others would look to us because we had

an influence and an impact in their life and be guided to that

which is right. and that, which is to God, you know, I knew a

rich man, one time I really did. and, you know, he was talking

about why Why he had all that he had?

You know what else she said, and why I will have everything that

I will have. Someday.

He says, because I have faith. He me and that's sad.

He said, I know why? I'm going to be a wealthy man,

all of my life. Because I have faith in me.

Well, that man died. He died all by himself lonely

and all of those things in all of his riches that he had, they

did him, absolutely no good. And it only took a couple years

for his family to squander everything he ever made.

I think that's what Jesus wants us to understand here in this

Parable. I think he wants us to

understand that God must be in our plans that God must be first

and things ought to be in proper perspective.

Well, let's apply this. Parable rather quickly.

Jesus makes that application and Luke chapter 12 and verse 21

Luke 12 · chapter mention

when he said. So is he that layeth up treasure

for himself and is not rich toward God.

If you want to know what the problem is, it wasn't that he

was Rich in the flesh. It was that he was not rich

toward God. So van, if we are rich in the

flesh, nothing wrong with that. As long as we are rich toward

God, if your plans for the future focus on yourself and not

on God and others, you are no different than the rich fool

that Jesus spoke of so long ago, you know, when we read these

words, this ought to encourage serious reflection in those that

plan for their retirement. Now again, there's certainly

nothing wrong with planning for the future, but just remember

this, you still got to bear fruit.

In old age, you know, I was thinking about this last night.

I mean this, I mean, this with all my heart, there are things

that the older folks can do. that you and I that are young

cannot There's an influence that you have that.

I do not have. You see when a person has lived

their life for a long period of time.

They got a little salt in their hair, all of a sudden we find

that those are the people that have learned from their

mistakes. They've learned from the

mistakes of others and they have an influence that we that are

younger, do not have All we respect greatly the life of

those that are older. Let me just say this, those of

us that are young, let me speak to those that are older right

now. We're counting on you.

We need you, we need you in the body of Christ, because there

are things that you can do that. We cannot.

So, when you retire, you can't retire.

Spiritually. There's nowhere in the Bible

that it says that you ever reach a point in time in your life

when you don't have a responsibility to the Lord and

his church, any longer there is nowhere in God's in God's word

that declares that You don't get a gold watch.

Thanks for your service. We'll see you later.

No unto death. Unto death.

There are people that are here right now that encouraged me

because I know that they're not in the best of health.

I know that they are older. I know that they're not in the

best of health, but I'm going to tell you something.

They're down here. You know why?

They haven't retired. The Lord's number one in their

life. We must keep in mind the brevity

of life. We must understand the will of

the Lord in James chapter 4 and beginning.

James 4 · chapter mention

In verse 13, the Bible says go team.

Now, ye that say today or tomorrow, we will go into a city

and continue their a year and buy and sell and get game.

And, you know, not what thou, what thou shall be on the morrow

for? What is your life, it?

Is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time and then

vanisheth away for that. You ought to say, if the Lord

will we shall live and do this or that but now you rejoice in

your boastings. All such rejoicing is evil, what

are they talking about? He says, don't rejoice in your

boasting if you rejoice in your boasting that type of boasting

is evil. What did we talk about on

Wednesday evening? We made reference to, as we

discussed. Inspired writer of Hebrews when

he was talking about the Christian race and so on and the

benefit of living the Christian Life and doing so all the way to

death. Remember now we reflected back

on the words of Jesus Christ himself.

When he speaking to those disciples said this he said

you're going to have a benefit that.

No one else is going to have you are going to have the benefit

that the spirits would be subject unto you.

Now, I don't know about you but that sounds like a pretty big

deal. You know what Jesus says though

about that don't boast in that. Don't be proud of that.

His exact words in the King, James version Don't rejoice in

that. Then he tells them, why you

rejoice? Because your name is written in

heaven. That's why we Rejoice today.

All the material things in the world.

Can't do that. But we Rejoice because our name,

my name's in there. If you're Christian, your name

is in heaven enrolled there. We Rejoice greatly because of

that. Well, the question is then is

how can we be sure that if a person is rich in this life he

can still be rich toward God. That's really the question.

First of all, and certainly stating the obvious number one

being in Christ is certainly required.

The Bible would tell us that all spiritual blessings come

through, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and our savior, the great

Apostle Paul wrote so long ago and Ephesians chapter 1 and

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

verse 3, he said blessed be the God, and father of our Lord,

Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings.

In Heavenly places in. Iced also the exceeding Riches

of God's grace is only shown through Jesus Christ.

There is no blessings outside of the body of Christ, for one to

understand how he must separate the things of this world.

And the thing spiritually he needs to understand, it makes no

difference all the things that he possesses.

If he is not in the body of Christ, which is to be a member

of the Lord's Church. The one that he built.

So long ago on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter, Her

too. There are no blessings outside

of that Institution. That's how we can know starting

off if we are in Christ, Ephesians 2.

Beginning, in verse 4, please Paul said, but God, who is rich

in Mercy for his great love wherewith.

He loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us

together with Christ by grace. Are you saved?

And at the raised us up together and made us sit together in

Heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in all the ages to come he

might show Show the exceeding Riches of his grace in the

kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Now then there's so many things I'd like to talk about on along

this line. We need to move on secondly in

order that we might understand, if we are living our life Rich

toward God, is when we use the things that we have of material

basis, the material riches. If we use them properly, we need

to be ready and Going to help others who are in.

Need Jesus, on more than one occasion.

Connects helping the poor with laying up Treasures in Heaven.

Notice what he said in the twelfth chapter of the Book of

Luke and beginning, in verse 32, Jesus says fear not little flock

for it, is your father's. Good pleasure to give you the

kingdom cell, that you have and give alms provide yourselves

bags, which wax not old a treasure in the heavens that

That faileth, not where no Thief, approacheth neither, moth

corruptive, for where your treasure is, there will your

heart be. Also, you remember, when Jesus

was speaking to the Rich, Young Ruler in the Rich Young Ruler

said to him, he said, Master, tell me, what must I do to

obtain eternal life. You remember what?

Jesus? Finally told him, he told him

you go, sell all that you have and you give it to the poor.

He said, you take up your cross and you follow.

Me. Jesus didn't say if you have

money, you got to go get rid of it.

That's not what his point was. You know, what?

His point was, what we talked about so many times. the Lord

has to be first no, stumbling block or obstacle or know

anything in this life, can stand in our way, and he knew that the

riches of life was standing in the way of this young man and

his service to God, he said to God, to remove what your problem

is, and you take up your cross and you follow me, you know,

this man, the Bible says, went away sorrowful e because he was

very, very He wealthy he missed the whole point, he missed the

idea that Jesus wanted him to understand notice what Paul told

the young evangelist Timothy to command those Rich that are

present in this, that are in this present age or in this

present world. And First Timothy chapter 6 in

1 Timothy 6 · chapter mention

verses 17 through 19, Paul said, charge them that are rich in

this world that they be not high-minded, nor Trust.

In uncertain riches, but in the Living, God, who giveth us

richly all things to enjoy that, they do good, that they be rich

in. Good Works ready to distribute

willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves.

A good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay

hold on eternal life. And just remember what Jesus

said for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

You know, as we use the things that we have monetarily and the

money that we have and the wealth that we have and the

possessions that we have, when we share those things with those

that are less fortunate, it goes a long way toward being rich

toward God. You know, finally, There's

something that I'm going to talk about that.

I know I speak of quite often and I'm going to tell you

something, I'm going to keep speaking on it because it seems

to be always an issue. There's another way to know if

we were on the right track and that is simply this if the Lord

and his church is first in your life that is imperative.

You know, it's really quite simple and living the Christian

Life. If the Lords Turkey is first,

then every single priority in our life will fall where it

needs to fall. The problem is we get things out

of sorts because the Lord's church is not first in our life.

How do you know if you are getting richer toward God or

Rich toward God? If his church is number one,

when we do though, the me just talk about a blessing that we

have, we have both physical and spiritual blessings in doing so.

So when the Lord church is number one and Luke chapter 12,

Luke 12 · chapter mention

beginning in verse 22, Jesus said and he said unto his

disciples, therefore, I say unto you.

Take no thought for your life. What ye shall eat neither for

your body. What ye shall put on the life is

more than meat and the body is more than raiment.

Consider the Raymond's for they neither sow nor reap which

neither have Storehouse nor barn and God feedeth them, how much

more are you better than foul? And which of you, which taking

thought can add to his stature one cubit, if he then be not

able to do that, which is the least.

Why take ye thought for the rest consider the lilies how they

grow? They toil not they spin not and

yet I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed

like one of these if then God. So clothes the grass which is

today in the field and to Morrow is cast into the oven, how much

more will he Clothe, You O ye of little faith and seek not ye

what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink.

Neither be, ye of doubtful mind for all these things do.

The nations of the world seek after and your father knoweth

that ye have need of these things.

Then in verse 31, he says, but rather seek ye the kingdom of

God and all these things shall be added unto you.

Jesus on another occasion. Asian on The Sermon.

On the Mount said, seek, ye first the kingdom of God and his

righteousness. You know, when the Lord and his

kingdom is first. We don't have attendance

problems, we really don't. We'll be able to do as the

inspired writer of Hebrews said, we'd be able to cast every

weight and every Temptation that would so easily.

Beset us. And we be able to run the race

with patience until the very end.

If the Lord is first, you know, I know people.

I know you do too. that, you know, because the life, they

live that the Lord and his church is first, Then if we come

in here in this building, all of a sudden, one day or one time we

look around and they're not here.

You know what? We think we better get on the

phone. Something's wrong.

Something's wrong. Somebody is in the hospital.

Somebody died. Something is wrong.

Because by the life, they live, we know we can count on them.

I wonder though if that could be said about all of us, but I'll

tell you something, when you look at your life and you

compare your life with the things that we have to let lay

aside in, living the Christian Life, it won't matter because

our Treasures would be in heaven.

That would be, what is the most important thing in our life and

Jesus said, where your treasure is, there will your heart be

also. A tax assessor.

One time he came to a poor old preacher.

And he was trying to determine the amount of taxes that he

would have to pay. Maybe you've heard this, I don't

know. But this tax man said, he said,

I need to know all of the things that you possess Because I have

to tax you on your wealth. Well this man says oh sir I'm a

wealthy wealthy man. And so the tax assessor opened

up his book and he got his Pen in Hand and he's listening.

They're listening, very attentively to what this

preacher had to say. And this preacher said, you

know, I've got 10 of the greatest most valuable things in

all the world. Oh, hanging on to his every word

on the edge of his seat. This tax, man listened to this

preacher say this. He said, first of all, I've got

everlasting life. He said, secondly.

I've got a mansion in heaven. He said, thirdly and I know a

lot of folks don't think this is much but I do.

He says I've got peace that passes all understanding.

He says fourthly. I have also what the world

doesn't have. I have joy unspeakable fifthly.

He says I have Divine love which never fails He said, six, you

know, in a world where there are broken homes and broken families

and shattered promises. I have a faithful precious wife.

Seventh. I have healthy and happy

obedient children eight. I have true.

Loyal friends. Real friends that are with me

all the days of my life, 9th, I have songs in the night and

10th, I have a Crown of Life. Well, you know, this old tax man

said, you know, sir, he said truly, you are rich, indeed.

But you're of no use to me because your wealth is not

subject to taxation. Oh, would that we would all

aspire to have the wealth. That is not taxed.

You know, in conclusion, this morning and I need to draw my

remarks to a close. I'll do so now, This rich man in

our Parable, stood that day and stood and stood before the Lord.

He assessed his problem. The Lord conveyed this parable.

but this rich man when he figured out what his problem was

and how to solve it, The Lord said he's a fool.

He might be wise to the world but God said he's a fool because

he said this. Now here was a man that thought

he was just going to live on and on and on and on he's covered

every base. Except this one.

This night thy Soul shall be required of Thee.

And while all the things and all the possessions that you have,

what good are they now for you? You know why this is important.

Make no mistake. When death comes death is not

coming from the things that you possess death is not coming for

yours. As one preacher said, one time

death is coming for you. You know, I heard it all

straightened like this one time. If death was coming for our

possessions, we could maybe sit down with death and say, look,

you take half or three-quarters of everything that I possess and

be gone with you. Oh no.

When death comes in the chilly Waters of death are before us,

It is coming for us. The question is, will you be

ready when death comes of all the plans that you've made for

tomorrow? Did you make provision for your

soul? Are you here today and not a

Christian? Are you not a Christian and

you've never entered into the body of Christ?

We talked about the fact that there's only blessings, Jesus

only through his church, we enter into his church when our

sins are washed away. We hear the word of God.

As we've done today upon hearing it.

We believe in Jesus as the son of God.

Be willing to repent of our sins and decide we no longer want to

live that way any longer confess, the name of Jesus

Christ, as the Son of God and then be baptized in water for

the remission of our sins. Have we made provision for our

soul by doing those steps and having our sins washed away, We

thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the Church of

Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you

would like any additional information or you would like to

receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail.

Please email us at info at True Church of Christ

Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays

at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our

honored guest.