august 4, 2019 8th
Sunday After Pentecost
Luke 12:15-21 (The Message)
15 Speaking to the people, he (Jesus) went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
16-19 Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’
20 “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’
21 “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”
You can, to a large degree, determine a person’s theology by the pronouns they use. For pronouns give direction to life. They point to what is important in one’s life. Mine...yours...ours...Thine.
What a difference it makes when we are able to look at our possessions and say “Thine”. Then our possessions fall into their rightful place in life. Then they are not ours in a selfish way, but ours to use in a redemptive way. And we get out of the trap of thinking they are all that matters, when so often they can do so little to satisfy our deepest needs. For we were created for more then just abundance. We were created to know and be known by God. Our spiritual needs cannot be satisfied with material goods - no matter how hard we try.
“Ah, there is only one problem, only one in all the world. How can we restore to man a spiritual significance, a spiritual discontent; let something descend upon them like the dew of a Gregorian chant...don’t you see, we cannot live any longer on refrigerators, politics, balance-sheets, and crossword puzzles. We simply cannot.” Author unknown
“When you have everything,
something is missing.”
Jewish proverb
Prayer thought for the week: “Lord, help me to love what is worth loving and treasure
what is precious in your sight. Help me to be redemptive in my living.”
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