So, what do you hear?
Everyone has heard the words. The expected response would be that we all heard the “Parable of the Rich Fool”. But did we all hear the same thing? Well, that is up to you.
Our reading this morning is a little more complicated than it sounds in its hearing. There are actually three groups that these words are being directed to. First, we must recognize in the story that Jesus is teaching his disciples in front of a huge crowd who are listening in. The disciples are the first group. Second, there is the crowd eavesdropping on Jesus and his conversations and teachings. And third, there is the man who interrupts Jesus to ask him to settle an inheritance dispute between him and his brother. Each of them heard the words, but did they derive the same meaning and purpose out of the words?
That is the question.
It is easy to jump to the conclusion that this is all about greed. The parable is about a greedy rich man who in his abundance stores up his crops and apparent wealth to enjoy down the road. Then he finds out that he isn’t going to make it through the night, and it was all for naught. Jesus is asked by man to settle an argument about an inheritance for his brother and himself . . . the man wants his fair share . . . wants what is coming to him. Again, it is about fiscal and material wealth. These two examples easily point to greed . . .
. . . and greed is not good.
So, is this about greed? Is that what you heard? Maybe . . . maybe not. Greed is definitely a seasoning mixed into the flavor of the story. That is probably what the interrupting man heard. Jesus tells the man that it is not his job to settle the dispute between him and his brother. The crowd probably heard that it is not good to try and hang onto what one has in abundance. After all it can all disappear in a poof of smoke. Yea, greed is there but it is not the story.
The story is about choice. The choice is in how one is going to live his or her life. How one is going to live in relationship with God . . . with others. This is where true wealth and security are found . . . not in wealth and material goods. What good is any of that if it can be taken away in the blink of an eye! That is why Jesus says, “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Jesus tells us: “ . . . life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
But wait a minute! We have all heard that God will take care of those who take care of themselves. Isn’t that what the man was doing when he asked Jesus to settle the inheritance question? Isn’t that what the rich man was doing with the abundance of his crops? Weren’t they just taking care of themselves and their families? Think about it . . . with the inheritance wouldn’t the man be able to relax and enjoy life knowing he had a cushion to fall back on? Same with the rich man and his crops. Wasn’t what he was doing fiscally smart . . . a sort of financial insurance policy for his future? Weren’t they taking care of themselves?
Of course, they were. They were doing exactly what all of us have been raised and taught to do. The only problem with it is that it is not what Jesus would want us to do. The wisdom to navigate this world is not the wisdom that will prepare any of us for the coming of the kingdom of God. Yet, we are like the two men in the story putting much time and energy into things that are temporary and fleeting. Instead, Jesus asks us—those of us who claim to put our lives in the hands of Jesus—to trust in him and reach for the greater wealth of God.
Jesus does not call for his followers to build long, comfortable lives for themselves, but they are called to follow him. To follow him wherever he leads . . . even to the cross. It is in that relationship between the Holy and sacred that wealth is accumulated . . . that relationship between us and others. That is what gives us life.
And . . . it is our choice.
The writer of the Gospel of Luke is convinced that nothing we possess, nothing we plan, can possibly give us life. But Jesus can. In this gospel the call to discipleship . . . the call of following Jesus through life is to leave everything, everything, behind and follow Jesus.
Easier said than done . . . after all, we think that the rich guy in the parable is pretty smart. He is taking care of business . . . taking care of his future and his needs . . . taking care of himself. And, we all know, God helps those who help themselves. We know it, but how many times do we read about Jesus sending out his disciples into the world with nothing . . . to take nothing but the clothes on their backs and to trust. To trust Jesus. To trust God.
The calling of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke is not for the faint of heart. It is not for those who would cling to their lives and their stuff. It is for those who are willing to step into a relationship with God and to trust God’s movement upon their lives. Jesus shows the way. The choice is ours . . . are we willing to follow?
This is a life that is fulfilling . . . a life of learning and becoming content with God’s love as being more than enough to what we think we need. It is a life of loving God in return and therefore serving those around us in love—especially sharing what we have with them. Jesus called this “being rich toward God.” This is the only life that truly satisfies. It is then that we see the truth that “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
As always . . . it is up to you. The choice is yours. One of these days we just might get it right. Amen.
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