ESSAYS

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S I M P L E T H I N G S

Passing On

Author: Mark E. Holmes

"And he spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And 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. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou has provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."~Luke 12:16-21

Two fundamental principles of rulership are number one, the ruler must maintain rule, and number two, the ruler must perpetuate or "pass on" his rule to someone else. The ruler in this parable made a critical error in thinking only of himself. He did not see the importance of passing on what he possessed. This ruler's obvious possessions were land, crops, and barns. However, he also possessed knowledge, wisdom, and character. The ruler regardless of his position will not live forever on the earth and will eventually be faced with the question, "Whose shall those things be?" To continue to focus on obtaining more when you have plenty and neglecting to prepare someone to perpetuate your rule is foolish. As ruler, the process of "passing on" those things gained under your rulership should not be ignored. The ruler must take time now to pass on his possessions both tangible and intangible to someone else.

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