Chapter 12b

vs 13 – 21

There are some stories you read in the Bible that are truly frightening. Sometimes it’s because there’s something horrendous happening. Other times – like this one – the fear is understated; but it’s definitely there.

In this story I fear because of something that lurks in the back of every human’s consciousness – the realization that some day, sooner or later, life as we understand it comes to an end.

Our hero is rich. There’s no hint that his wealth is in any way ill-gotten; we have no reason to believe he achieved wealth by any other means than hard work and diligence. Let’s be clear here – the fact that he is wealthy isn’t condemned.

But this man HAS spent his entire life working for the goods he’s accumulated. He is now at the point where if he builds larger barns, he can relax to some extent.

Then like all of us, he faces death.

We are forced to look at the question of whom will receive his money and goods now that he is dead.

And you know, we’re really looking at ourselves.

The horrible thing about death is that we can’t really imagine it. We can’t imagine what it is like to not be here. Mostly we try to avoid thinking about it; but we’re fooling nobody but ourselves.

Today Steve Jobs died. He’d amassed an incredible fortune; yet who has it now?

The reality is that we all must face this and come to terms with it. This is how it will be if we gather up things for ourselves but are not rich with God.