Time out to take inventory

In Luke 12, we read of a man who had finally made it in life. His life was one great success story. 

The things he had dreamed about for a lifetime were about to happen. After working hard all his life, he had reached the point where he could take life easy. Just one more bumper crop, one more expansion of his business, and he was ready to retire and enjoy the rewards of a lifelong effort. 

Who could blame him? When you have worked hard all your life and you have managed to build up your investment portfolio, when you have fairhfully added to your 401K and have done well in your career or business, you feel you have the right to say, “The time has come to take it easy.” 

You feel you have laid up plenty of good things for many years. What could be wrong with that?

In the parable of the rich fool, the Lord answers that question. There is nothing wrong with enjoying some of the fruits of our labors. 

But this man had missed the point of his life: he had not been rich toward God. 

This man said, “I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool. (Luke 12:19-20) Now, the critical question is, “Have we been rich toward God?”