Notes on the Parable of the Rich Man

Hen he abandons that for the forum, or merchandize, or politics, the church will lose something, and the world will not gain much.

3. Take heed and beware.—A double warning is given here, because the sin is a very common and great one. Let us not make a common mistake, that only the rich are covetous. It is a sin common to all classes. Women, as well as men, are warped and crooked by it. Many people, not worth two hundred dollars, are as covetous as the devil would desire them to be. There are two kinds of wealth attainable in this world; that of character, and that of property. When both are combined, and belong to one person, he is truly rich; the man with but little of this world's goods, but rich in character, occupies a position to be envied by millionaires. He who is rich in property, and nothing else, is poor indeed. Lazarus was rich; Dives, poor.

4. The Rich Man.—It was no sin to be rich, and to have new and well-filled barns. It was the duty of this man to make all he could, and take care of everything he made. Joseph, in Egypt, collected much corn, and preserved it with care. He was right. David laid up much treasure, and no one blamed him. It is not the getting of wealth that makes the sin; it is the motive that impels to the act. Mr. Wesley's advice on this subject is good: "Make all you can; save all you can; give all you can."

5. Eat, drink and be merry.—This is the very lowest view to take of happiness in this life. He who enjoys only this much is on a level with the lower animals. It is right that we should provide food and raiment, and even the comforts of life; but when we esteem these things above the soul's welfare, then we become like the rich man in the parable.

6. Thou fool.—God may not speak in person to us, but often he sends a direct message in the way of a fatal disease, or a terrible accident, and the warning and the blow come in the same night. Now, this rich man was not called a fool by his neighbors; he was wise and prudent in their eyes; but God could, with authority, say, "Thou fool," or unthinking one. God's opinion of men differs very much from ours. After years of labor and anxiety, just as this man was getting ready to retire from business—a thing that no healthy, vigorous man has any human or divine right to do—the divine message came to him. The goods all had to be left behind; the barns would never more be needed; greedy and ungrateful heirs would attend to these things. God did not require his goods, nor his barns, nor his cattle; the soul was the only thing demanded. Whether you are rich or poor, whether liberal or covetous, one of these days this message will most certainly come to you: "This night shall thy soul be required of thee."

7. Rich toward God.—The nameless woman that washed the Saviour's feet was rich; while Simon, the rich Pharisee, was poor. One may live in an humble cabin, and yet enjoy being rich towards God. It is the high privilege of every one living in a Christian land. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."