The wrong self-assurance of a rich man

         
 

´Beware! Be on your guard against greed of every kind, for even when someone has more than enough, his possessions do not give him life.´

And he told them this parable: ´There was a rich man whose land yielded a good harvest. He debated with himself: "What am I to do? I have not the space to store my produce. This is what I will do," said he: "I will pull down my barns and build them bigger. I will collect in them all my grain and other goods, and I will say to myself, ´You have plenty of good things laid by, enough for many years to come: take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.´" But God said to him, "You fool, this very night you must surrender your life; and the money you have made, who will get it now?" That is how it is with the man who piles up treasure for himself and remains a pauper in the sight of God.´


     
 

Source: The Revised English Bible, Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press, 1997, Luke, 12, 15-21. The Revised English Bible was planned and directed by representatives of THE BAPTIST UNION OF GREAT BRITAIN, THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, THE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES FOR WALES, THE IRISH COUNCIL OF CHURCHES, THE LONDON YEARLY MEETING OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, THE METHODIST CHURCH OF GREAT BRITAIN, THE MORAVIAN CHURCH IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ENGLAND AND WALES, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN IRELAND, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SCOTLAND, THE SALVATION ARMY, THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, THE BIBLE SOCIETY, THE NATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND.

     
         
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