June 26
Willing to warn
“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’” Luke 12:20 (NKJV)
When God sees us heading down an unhealthy path, He loves us enough to warn us. He’s willing to step in and tell us what we need to hear, not just what we want to hear.
Jesus once shared a parable warning against the danger of being preoccupied with this world. The story centers on a wealthy farmer whose crops were doing exceedingly well. His success continued, and it got to the point where he ran out of room to store his crops.
“What should I do?” he wondered. “I know! I’ll tear down the barns I already have and build bigger and better barns. That way I can store up everything and coast through this life with ease.”
It seemed like a full-proof plan. But, there was something wrong beneath the surface. His sole focus in life was fixed on getting and keeping as many material possessions as he possibly could. It was a path worthy of warning, which is what God does in the parable.
“But God said to him, ‘Fool!’” Consider that for a moment. Here’s a man who thinks he has it all together and has all his plans set. How many of us would have politely nodded and smiled as he went on with his agenda? But not God. In the story, Jesus portrays God as being willing to step in with a warning and tell this man what he didn’t want to hear. Why? Because he needed to hear it.
So what do we take away from this “But God”? We learn that when we’re set on a course of action that warrants a warning, the Lord is willing to speak into the situation and tell us what we need to hear, even if we don’t want to hear it. He may use His Word, a faithful friend, or some other means. And when He does, we’re wise to listen.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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