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.

6. “And God,” who does not disdain to speak even with fools, “said unto him.” Some of you may perhaps say, And how did God speak with a fool? O, my Brethren, with how many fools does He speak here, when the Gospel is read! When it is read, are not they who hear and do not, fools? What then did the Lord say? For he, I repeat, thought himself wise by the discovery of his expedient. “You fool,” He says; “You fool,” who seemest wise unto yourself; “You fool,” who hast said to your soul, “You have much goods laid up for many years: today is your soul required of you!” Your soul to which you have said, “You have much goods,” today is “required,” and has no good at all. Let it then despise these goods, and be herself good, that when she is “required,” she may depart in assured hope. For what is more perverse than a man who wishes to have “much goods,” and does not wish to be good himself? Unworthy are you to have them, who dost not wish to be what you wish to have. For do you wish to have a bad country house? No indeed, but a good one. Or a bad wife? No, but a good one. Or a bad hood? Or even a bad shoe? And why a bad soul only? He did not in this place say to this fool who was thinking on vain things, building barns, and who had no regard to the wants of the poor; He did not say to him, “Today shall your soul be hurried away to hell:” He said no such thing as this, but “is required of you.” “I do not tell you whither your soul shall go; yet hence, where you are laying up for it such store of things, must it depart, whether you will or no.” Lo, “you fool,” you have thought to fill your new and greater barns, as if there was nothing to be done with what you have.