“…The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
Luke 12:16
Yesterday, we mentioned we’d begin discussing the story of the rich young man Jesus called foolish. Jesus’ goal in telling this story is captured in his response to the crowd: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Now to the story. “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”
Notice how Jesus began this story? “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.” The story doesn’t mention any effort on his part. It seems deliberate. The point is, even if the man did some work, the ultimate increase comes from God.
As 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 says, “Paul plants and Apollos watered; it is still God that gives the increase. So then neither is he that plants anything, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase.”
For this rich man, however, he was just basking in the glow of his success, planning to build bigger barns to store his surplus. Yet, in his self-centeredness, he failed to acknowledge the true source of his increase—the Lord.
The rich man’s attitude reflects a common human tendency: attributing success solely to personal effort and ingenuity, disregarding God’s role in blessing and provision. However, the truth remains: it is God who brings increase. As believers, we must recognize that while we may put in effort and diligence in our daily endeavours, it is ultimately God who grants growth and prosperity.
Acknowledging God as the source of our increase cultivates a heart of gratitude and humility. Instead of pridefully claiming all credit for our achievements, we should glorify God with our resources, knowing that every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17). Our wealth, talents, and resources are entrusted to us by God for His purposes, and we are called to be faithful stewards.
So, maybe it’s time to take inventory of our lives again and sincerely ask ourselves if we have been attributing glory to where it truly belongs.
PRAYER
Lord, I acknowledge You as the source of all blessings and the giver of every good and perfect gift. Forgive me for all the times I took credit for my achievements. Grant me the spirit of humility and help me cultivate a heart of gratitude. Amen.
