A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted

Kiss of an Angel

December 4th 2010

 Scripture - “The Rich Fool”  -  Luke 12:13-21

               Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”  But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you”  And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” 

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’  So he said, ‘I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘FOOL! This night your soul will be required of you;  then whose will those things be which you have provided?’”   “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

 HYMN OF THE DAY  -  “We’ve A Story To Tell To The Nations”

We've a story to tell to the nations that shall turn their hearts to the right;

A story of truth and sweetness, a story of peace and light.

A story of peace and light. (Chorus) 

 

We've a song to be sung to the nations, that shall lift their hearts to the Lord;

A song that shall conquer evil and shatter the spear and sword.

And shatter the spear and sword. (Chorus)

We've a message to give to the nations that the Lord who reigneth above

Hath sent us His Son to save us and show us that God is love, 

And show us that God is love. (Chorus)

We've a Savior to show to the nations Who the path of sorrow hath trod,

That all of the world's great peoples might come to the truth of God, 

Might come to the truth of God (Chorus)

(Chorus) For the darkness shall turn to dawning, And the dawning to noonday bright, And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth, The kingdom of love and light.

MEDITATION -   “Am I A Fool?”

Jesus admonishes us to “beware of covetousness” and he seems to be warning us specifically not to be more concerned, not to be “anxious”,  about money and material things than we are about having “right” attitudes.  He also gives us a very strong lesson in the dangers of being a “fool” in such matters.  Trusting in wealth is a fool’s investment.  The rich man in the parable made a number of grievous errors when he assumed that (1) wealth is to be “stored” or “hoarded” rather than used appropriately; (2) it is to be used for personal pleasure and/or ease in living; (3) that wealth is all that is needed to fill the God-shaped hole in our lives ...

It seems to be very important to Jesus that we find reassurance about the needlessness of being anxious for worldly goods and wealth as well as about what “true security” looks like.

I am really doing some serious thinking about what I need to learn from this parable… about how I am to value both things and spiritual truth in this life! I think the lesson is also about the difference between “needs” and “wants” and how easy it is to confuse the two!  No other season of the year beckons me into the trap of materialism as does the Christmas season.  How sad this is! I am tempted to overspend significantly in an attempt to buy just the right gift for everyone.   I suppose my intentions are noble enough - - - after all, I am doing for others, am I not?  It’s not selfish greed on my part when I am trying to make things nice for others, is it?  It’s not poor stewardship of my resources since it’s Christmas, is it?  We all know that “Christmas comes but once a year”, don’t we?

What is it, then, that is making me so uncomfortable?  It’s not the January bills, because I am paying cash for those things I buy.  It’s not the crowds at the mall, because I have done most of my shopping before the malls get crowded.  It’s not the lines at the post office, because I mailed early.   It’s not a “lot” of things, yet there is the anxiety that Jesus expressly cautioned against.   It’s the “desperation” that I feel to “do it just right”; to buy “just the perfect gift for everyone” . . . and it’s more than this.   It’s a misplaced priority in me which is so strong  that it feels “ok” and “normal” and “right”.   It’s a “leftover” from those days of my youth when I thought love was measured in “things” - - - by what I gave and got for Christmas and birthdays, etc.  

We all have to live.  We need certain things in order to do so.  In the fast-paced world we now live in, it is all but impossible to get along without a car.  No one, including Jesus I think, would begrudge us shelter, food, clothing, transportation, medical care, or the companionship of friends.  So, what’s wrong with my picture?   Where’s the anxiety coming from?  Why do I feel so desperate to “do it right”?

Maybe some of it is a matter of self-esteem.  I know I “feel” better about myself when I am able to participate fully in the gift-giving part of Christmas, and I don’t think my priorities in that regard are so badly skewed.  On the other hand, however, I am beginning to realize that I am holding onto more of the materialism of my youth than I once thought I was and certainly more of it than I want to hold on to!!  I think I’m still trying to make people love me and not be disappointed in me by buying really neat Christmas gifts.  The thought of an empty living room on Christmas morning - - - no presents under the tree for those I love - - - no smell of turkey roasting - - - no rush to Mother’s house with the turkey - - - no friends and family around a groaning table, laden with all the “best” of everyone’s holiday recipes - - - is a thought that HURTS me when I think it.  I think, however, that it’s not supposed to hurt!

Jesus speaks to us about “covetousness” - - - what does it mean?  The Old Testament commandment cautions us not to covet all manner of things - - - can it also be a sin to covet relationships, standards of living, gifts for other people, etc.? Barking at the heels of “this” thought, is the remembrance of all of those people who, for whatever reasons,  will not have any family and friends around them - - - will not have any table laden with the best goodies - - - will have no presents, indeed no tree - - - no shelter - - - nothing of the material things we all find so important.  I remember, and I am sad, and I am ashamed of myself.  I hear the words of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke 12:22-34.  Jesus says there, in an obvious effort to teach what “true security” is about, and to ease our anxieties,

“... Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?   

Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you,  even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  

 And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.   For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But  seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.   

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

We see, then, that true security lies in doing the will of God and not in amassing possessions and wealth.  We see that God and His grace are more than sufficient for every need, and that we can trust His rich promises in every condition, including the highest and lowest moments of our lives.  Where is your treasure?  Where is mine?  Where are our hearts this Christmas?

PRAYER -  Precious God and Father,  help us to open our eyes and our ears and our hearts to see and hear and feel the truth of this parable.  Help us not to be anxious about what we need for life.  We are tempted on every side by glitz and glitter to sink into the traps of materialism.  We are drawn into belief that what we “want” is the same thing as what we “need”, perhaps more at Christmas than any other season of the year.   

We would be wise as the Magi in our gift-giving and give those things which are needed for life . . . for our friends, our families and those less fortunate with whom we share life!  Give us generous hearts and lead us in our generosity to the needs of the world around us. We thank you and we bless your name and the precious name of Jesus for every good gift to us!  Amen.

 

ACTIVITY - Wish List - Ask every member of the family to make a “wish list” of things that they want that money can’t buy.  Some things that may show up are things like back rubs, dish washing, a trip to the toy store, a closet cleaned out, a story read, the kitty box cleaned out, errands run, candlelight dinner, laundry done . . . there are lots of possibilities. Every one should take one item off each person’s list and resolve to give that item to that person during the season.