August 12, 2007. Greed.
Long before the age of iPhones, satellite TV, and farmers managing fields
larger than some zip codes, Jesus warned His disciples about all kinds of
greed. Life is not just the stuff in our homes, or the cottage by Lake
Okoboji, or the amount of toys in a closet.
Jesus told a parable about money to illustrate this. But since 1/3rd of
His parables are about money, more specifically it is the parable of the rich
fool in Luke 12.
"The ground of a certain RICH man produced a good crop." The man was not
poor; he was already rich. Why? Why was he rich?
Jesus doesn't mention he was crooked or immoral. Hard work, wise
planning, and good timing played a part. The ground produced the produce; with
help from sun, wind, rain, and so on.
Who gave the health to the man so he could work hard? God. Or the brains
to plan and time? God. Who gives soil, rains, wind, sun, fertilizer, air, and
all the other things needed for the crop, including the original DNA code for
the grain? God.
And as you listened to the story, did the man sound thankful for ANY of
those blessings? No. Even when he was blessed so much that he couldn't hold
it all? No. No thanks to God.
He could have shown gratitude by giving a huge thankoffering in the Temple
or a mission project. He had options to help the hungry, the hurting, or even
the rest of his family. But there was no thanks to God. There was no love
shown to anyone around him. Watch the pronouns.
What shall I do with MY crops? I will tear down MY barns (God created the
raw materials for those, too), and build bigger ones for MY grain AND MY goods
so I can take it easy.
Christ is NOT condemning 401K accounts, retirement assets, or Bob Brinker's
critical mass of holdings in old age. Jesus never says it is a sin to plan and
prepare for the future. The evil is in how you view belongings.
Let's say a windfall comes your way. A windfall is a word that means you
get something nice you were not expecting, like ripe apples blown by the wind
into your yard from your neighbor's tree. But let's say it isn't apples; it is
a big tax refund, a big inheritance from an unknown uncle, or a bumper crop.
Is the windfall a gift from God?
How do you view your paycheck? Or how do you view what you get from a
garage sale, selling a car, or even your day to day transactions? Is it all
about YOUR sweat and labor, YOUR shrewd timing and clever planning? Even if
you are just 'scraping by' or even falling behind, do you think about thanking
God?
When you are honest with yourself before God, you will look at the Second
Use of the Law and ask: do I own things, or do things own me? Am I so poor
that I covet what God gives to others? Or so rich I am greedy for more
blessings, without giving thanks to the Hand that gives them?
Again, it's not evil to own a new boat, have a pool in the yard, or a
well-stocked pantry. It's a viewpoint. How do you use things?
What if you have 3 million dollars but no sense? All buildings, machinery,
land, and crops will be handed over to someone else - as Solomon lamented. All
we accumulated will be handed over to someone else who has not worked for it,
and who knows if the person will be wise or very foolish. Gain a world, lose a
soul.
Greed does funny things to people, even Christians. Greed can be as
simple as hiding food so other family members won't notice it. It can be
ignoring someone or some business in distress so we can profit later. It does
not just affect you; it also affects others around you.
A pastor went to a movie giving the ticket taker a $10 bill. He was given
change for a 20 and pushed along in line. He thot about getting extra popcorn.
He stopped.
He went to the back of the line and waited his turn. He gave the cashier
back the extra money and started toward his movie. The theater owner came to
him and said, "I heard you preach about honesty last Sunday. I guess you
practice what you preach. I'll be back this Sunday." I think I know what
would have happened if that pastor had kept the windfall. Do you think people
see you and your church as honest and caring - or as greedy?
What does Jesus warn you? For the person who stores up things, money, or
whatever for themselves but is poor toward God: you are a fool. Eat, drink,
and be merry - but tomorrow you die and have nothing. (Isaiah 22) Or as the
joke goes, there's no U-haul trailer behind the hearse.
The only answer to all this for the Christian is the cross of Christ. The
King of Kings left the fabulous wealth of heaven to become poor as 2
Corinthians 8 says so we could have His spiritual wealth. It is very foolish
from the world's point of view, to think God would trade His Son's blood for
ours. But He did.
For no reason other than mercy, God claimed you as an heir of heaven thru
the waters of Baptism. He adopted you as a child of God - what a wonder that
is! (1 John 3) In stead of our record of sin, He gives us His record of
perfection.
He offers, gives, & seals that forgiveness today in the guise of
unleavened bread and wine. Christ's power is given to you in His Real Presence
to turn away from sin and live in freedom.
It is not "Christ in me" that makes me rich, but "Christ on the cross"
that does that. By the might of His Word, He works in you and me to set our
hearts on things above so we live as His people, not like the unbelievers.
When you are possessed by Christ, you see what you own very differently.
You see your possessions, your family, your friends, and all around you as
gifts from God. Gifts to be enjoyed, but not worshipped. Gifts to be used to
serve God by serving others and build them up in God's strength.
How you do that will be different than the person beside you since God
gives gifts as HE chooses, not as YOU choose. And the person beside you IS a
gift; he or she is also storing up riches toward God.
I pray God would give us all a spirit of greed - for the riches of His
love, mercy, and His Kingdom! And the craving to build up others in this life
and the next, (Galatians 5:13) so we watch out not only for our own good, but
also for the good of others.
And I also pray that God would open our eyes to see and to be very
thankful for the many gifts He gives us, both earthly and heavenly. In Jesus'
Name. Amen.
I can't seem to find my notes. I *think* that this is mostly original -- if
not, please contact me.
Pastor Michael Harman,
St. Peter LCMS - Newell, IA
vacancies at ...
Immanuel, Pomeroy
First Evangelical, Fonda
