Jesus illustrated His teaching by the case of a substantial farmer whom the Lord had greatly favored. The Lord had blessed his grounds, causing them to produce plentifully, thus placing it in his power to exercise liberality to others not so greatly blessed. But when he found that his grounds had produced so abundantly, far beyond his expectation, instead of planning how to relieve the poor in their necessities, he began to devise means to secure all to himself. As he saw the gifts of heaven rolling into his garners he poured not out his soul in thanksgiving to the bounteous Giver, neither did he consider that this great blessing had brought additional responsibility. In the pure selfishness of his nature he inquires: “What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?” Taking counsel with his own covetous heart, he said: “This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” The means of real enjoyment and elevation of soul are activity, self-control, holy purposes; but all that this man proposed to do with the bounties God had given him was to degrade the soul. And what was the result? “God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” {5T 259.2}

Jesus illustrerede sin lære med en velstående landmand, hvem Herren havde velsignet rigt. Herren havde velsignet hans jorde og fik dem til at give i overflod, derved give ham magt til at udvise gavmildhed mod andre, knapt så velsignede. Men da han fandt at hans jord havde (260) givet i overflod, langt mere end forventet, begyndte han at tænke på hvordan han kunne sikre sig det hele selv, i stedet for at hjælpe fattige i deres behov. Idet han så himlens gaver rulle ind i sine lader, udgød han ikke sin sjæl i taknemmelighed til den gavmilde Giver, han tænkte heller ikke på at denne store velsignelse medførte et større ansvar. I sin naturs fattige selviskhed spurgte han: »Hvad skal jeg gøre? jeg har jo ikke plads til min høst.« I råd med sit eget begærlige hjerte, sagde han: »Sådan vil jeg gøre: jeg vil rive mine lader ned og bygge dem større og dér vil jeg samle alt mit korn og mit gods; og jeg vil sige til min sjæl: Sjæl! du har meget gods liggende, nok for mange år; slå dig til ro, spis, drik og vær glad!« Midlerne til virkelig nydelse og opløftelse er aktivitet, selvkontrol, hellige mål; men alt hvad denne mand havde i sinde at gøre med de rigdomme Gud havde givet ham, var at fornedre sjælen. Og hvad var resultatet? »Men Gud sagde til ham: »Du dåre! i denne nat kræves din sjæl af dig; hvem skal så have det, du har samlet dig?« Således går det den, som samler sig skatte, men ikke er rig hos Gud.«