Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament

⁵ Out of this occasion then, when that appellant was seeking his own portion, not desiring to plunder another's, arose that sentence of the Lord, wherein He said not, “Beware of covetousness;” but added, “of all covetousness.” Nor was this all: He gives another example of a certain rich man, “whose ground had turned out well.” “There was,” He says, “a certain rich man, whose ground had turned out well.” What is, “had turned out well”? The ground which he possessed had brought forth a great produce.

How great? So that he could not find where to bestow it: suddenly, through his abundance he became straitened— this old covetous man. For how many years had already passed away, and yet those barns had been enough? So great then was the produce, that the accustomed places were not sufficient. And the wretched man sought counsel, not as to how he should lay the additional produce out, but how he should store it up; and in thinking he discovered an expedient. He seemed as it were wise in his own eyes, by the discovery of this expedient.

Knowingly did he think of it, wisely hit upon it. What was this he wisely hit upon? “I will destroy,” he says, “my” old “barns, and will build new ones greater, and will fill them; and I will say to my soul.” What will you say to your soul? “Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years, take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.” This did the wise discoverer of this expedient say to his soul.