Have you noticed how many storage companies there are in Brandon? I’ve seen at least three new ones open up in my immediate neighborhood in the past couple of years. This is, to me, a fascinating aspect of our culture—we have so much stuff that we can no longer put it all in our garages at home, and so we have to go out and rent storage space. As you ride around, just observe how many houses have cars standing in the driveway because their garages are too full of excess things.
There’s a parable Jesus gave illustrating the problem created by excess. He told the story of a rich man whose land was very productive. “He began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ And 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. 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.”’” (Luke 12:17-19).
Do you see the problem? The man felt his future was assured by the goods he had stored away. He didn’t think about the fact that his goods would not go with him or help him when he died. His focus on crops and goods had blinded him to the spiritual realities which his soul would have to face—he was looking at the temporal to the neglect of the eternal. Which brings us to the question: “Where do your spiritual interests lie?” If you’re focused mainly on your material prosperity then you’re probably neglecting your spiritual welfare.
How will you know or recognize you’re putting too much emphasis on material things? Think about these questions: Does putting in more hours at your job down at the office or shop mean more to you than meeting with the church to worship the Lord? Do you hesitate to give time to the Lord’s work when you could spend that time earning more money? Do you cut your contribution because you want to put more into your investments? Do you spend on your holidays and leave nothing behind for the contribution when you’re away? All these are signs that you’re building bigger barns and neglecting your soul.
Jesus’ parable ends with this chilling scene when God says to the rich man: “You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?” Jesus states the point He wants to make in His parable: “So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21)
What if your soul is required of you this night?