April Fool!

Are you going to be an April Fool? Or will you spot the pranks and tricks being played today?
I will be listening to (and watching) news programmes looking out for clever 'April Fool' pranks. There was one on the Today programme before Thought for the Day, all about binaural radio, which sounded very like stereo sound!
The history of All Fools Day can be researched on Wikipedia, if you want to find out more!
In the Old Testament, the Psalmist is very clear that there are some people who deserve the title of fool. 'Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” (Psalm 14.1) If we think that is a bit tough, the compiler of the Psalms (whoever that might have been!) repeats, word for word, that early psalm in Psalm 53. 'Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” (Psalm 53.1)
One of Jesus' most memorable parables is usually called the Rich Fool, though one of my tutors at Theological College always called it The Poor Fool! This is all about the farmer who kept on building bigger and better, in order to store his increasing wealth. 'I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” (Luke 12.18-21)
These stark words from Jesus should be enough to make us reassess our attitudes towards possessions and wealth. But even the recent financial crisis hasn't done much to stop most of us being obsessed with things and money and stuff. Maybe the wisest thing we can do today it to look again at our relationship with God. Are we rich there, or poor? What will be we do about it? What needs to change?
Don't be an April Fool!
Best wishes,
Richard