By Martin Morrison
This is one of our top devotions of 2020 published on the 22nd of June 2020. Find the full article here
Because of my job I have heard hundreds of eulogies at funerals. I’ve often wondered what is the most common word used in those eulogies? Perhaps one of these words: loving, devoted, compassionate, successful, family, role model, smart. Imagine if you could choose the words to describe yourself at your own funeral. That’s somewhat conceited, but what do you think they would be?
The great shock in our passage today, Luke 12:13 – 21, is how God describes this man a heartbeat away from his death. You fool! In the eyes of the world this man has achieved greatness. He’s one of those annoying people who has landed in the butter! Distinctions at university, captain of the soccer team, lots of friends and parties, top job in Sandton, married ex Miss South Africa, quickly climbs up the corporate ladder. At 50 he has a large house in Houghton, a flat in London and a farm in Dullstroom.
It’s Saturday afternoon on his Dullstroom Estate. He’s drinking cocktails with his wife on the patio, overlooking their vast property. Despite the recession, his company has had a bumper year with totally unexpected turnover and profits. As he looks across the estate, everything he sees belongs to him: his latest Porsche, the newly built guest cottage, the horses and stables, the rolling fields, all paid for. He says to his wife, “Darling, you know it’s been such an extraordinary year, I think I can start thinking about retirement. Don’t have to wait another ten years”. “How wonderful, darling” she says, “You’ve worked so hard, you deserve it. We could travel more, play some golf at St Andrews”. But of course, he doesn’t get the chance. There’s a sudden pain in his chest. The cocktail glass he’s holding shatters on the Italian tiles. He’s dead before they get him to the hospital.
At the funeral everyone is in black, everyone has dark glasses, everyone smoking nervously before the service. Everyone is devastated. He was so smart, such a success; such a role model; how could this happen, so long before his time?
You see how normal this story is.
But God’s assessment is totally different. In fact, the exact opposite. “You fool”. Can you think of any more devastating words, than the Creator of the world, the Judge of all men, should look you straight in the eye and say, “You fool”. How shattering, for God to say that about you. Perhaps it would be smart to work out what the man got wrong!…Keep Reading