c) The virtues.

Like the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the next parable about the rich fool tells of the harm caused to a man by his attachment to his worldly riches. But while the two preceding parables about the unjust steward and the unwise rich man were predominantly about good works, the practical activity of a human, the following series of parables is mostly about a person’s self-cultivation and development of moral virtues.

"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 though hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" (Lk. 12:16-21).

This parable was told as a warning, so that a man would not save worldly riches. Because his life does not depend on his abundant property, his wealth will not add more years or health to his life. But death is particularly terrible for those who never think on it and never prepare for it: "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee." The phrase "rich toward God" implies the spiritual treasures. This is the treasure discussed in the parables of talents and minaes.