it is possible
that he had many books but
he never read them
Dr. Martin Luther King gave a sermon titled, The Man Who Was a Fool, at the Detroit Council of Churches’ Noon Lenten Services on March 6, 1961.
The sermon was based on the passage found in Luke 12 that describes a rich man whose farm produced more food than his barns could hold and his solution was to build bigger barns.
In the passage, it states that, “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.“
Dr. King further developed the character of the rich man saying:
You see this man was foolish because the richer he became materially, the poorer he became spiritually and intellectually.
He may have been married, but he didn’t really love his wife.
He may have given her all of the material necessities of life, but he deprived her of that something which she needed more than anything else, namely love and affection.
He may have had children, but he didn’t really appreciate them.
It’s possible that he had many volumes of books stored around his mansion, but he never read them.
He may have had access to great music, but he never listened to it.
And so his eyes were closed to the majestic grandeur of the stars.
And somehow his ears were closed to the melodious sweetness of great music.
His mind was closed to the insights of the poets and prophets and philosophers.
And therefore his title was justly merited.
He was a fool because he failed to keep a line of distinction between the “within” and the “without” of life.
It was the 55th anniversary of the Dr. King’s death yesterday.
In his memory and to honor him and to honor God, I say, love your wife.
Appreciate your children.
Read your books.
Listen to your music.
Look up and at the stars.
Open your mind.
Don’t be the fool.
No Haiku For You 