Read Luke 12:16–21. What’s the relevant message to us here? What

strong rebuke did the Lord give to the foolish man, and what

should that say to us regarding our attitude toward what we own?

Though the message is broader than this, one could argue that this

was a story Jesus told about what not to do in retirement. Accordingly,

if a person is quitting work to spend his accumulated assets on himself,

he should beware and take this story to heart. The problem is not work-

ing hard or getting wealth, particularly as one gets older and, perhaps,

even richer. The problem is the attitude toward it. Jesus’ words—“ ‘take

your ease; eat, drink, and be merry’ ” (Luke 12:19, NKJV)—express the

real issue here.

“This man’s aims were no higher than those of the beasts that per-

ish. He lived as if there were no God, no heaven, no future life; as if

everything he possessed were his own, and he owed nothing to God or

man.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 257, 258.

If we think only of ourselves and ignore the needs of others and the

cause of God during this stage of life, we are following the example

of the rich fool. There was no indication in Jesus’ parable that the rich

man was lazy or dishonest. The problem was in how he spent what God

had entrusted to him. Because we don’t know the day of our death, we

should always be ready for it by living to carry out God’s will instead

of pursuing a life of selfishness.

The general picture given in the Bible is that a person works and

remains productive as long as he or she is able. In fact, it is interesting

to note that the authors of the great prophetic books of Daniel and the

Revelation were, many believe, both in their 80s when they completed

their work. This was at a time when the average age at death was about

50 years. Ellen G. White published some of her best-known and best-

loved books, such as The Desire of Ages, after about age 70. Age, then,

as long as we are healthy, should not mean that we stop being produc-

tive and, to whatever extent possible, doing some good.

Jesus counseled those waiting for His second coming not just to

watch but to continue working, as well (Matt. 24:44–46).

At any age and with any amount of money, how can we avoid

falling into the trap that the man did here? Ask yourself, What

am I living for?