The Divine Interruption
Scripture: “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'” (Luke 12.20, ESV)
Main Point: God’s interruption of our earthly planning isn’t meant to discourage us but to awaken us to invest in eternal realities rather than temporary securities.
The rich man had it all figured out. His barns were built, his goods were stored, his future was secure. He could finally relax, eat, drink, and be merry. But then came the divine interruption—sudden, stark, and final. In one moment, all his careful planning became irrelevant.
God’s word “fool” carries biblical weight. A fool in Scripture isn’t merely someone lacking intelligence, but someone who lives as if God doesn’t exist or matter. The rich man had organized his entire life around the assumption that he was in control, that his plans would succeed, and that his security was guaranteed by his possessions. He had forgotten the fundamental truth that life itself is a gift from God, held only temporarily.
God’s piercing question—”The things you have prepared, whose will they be?”—exposes the ultimate futility of living for material accumulation. Everything we gather, every security we build, every plan we make must eventually be left behind. Death is the great equalizer that renders all earthly distinctions meaningless.
But this isn’t meant to drive us to despair. Rather, it’s meant to awaken us to what truly matters. When we remember that our time is limited and our possessions are temporary, we’re freed to invest in eternal realities—relationships, service, spiritual growth, and the advancement of God’s kingdom. The awareness of mortality can become a gift that helps us live more meaningfully.
Application: Consider how the reality of your mortality might change your priorities. What would you want to be remembered for? What eternal investments could you make this week that will outlast your earthly life?
Prayer: God of life and death, help me remember that my days are numbered and my possessions are temporary. Use this awareness not to frighten me but to focus my heart on things that truly matter—loving You and serving others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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