Dearest e-votees-
It seems like forever since I have written to you after daily devotions through the Bible in 90 Days.
This Sunday's appointed gospel text has something to say to those of us who live in affluent parts of the world and like to dream of the days to come.
Peace,
Karl
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13 Someone in the crowd said to [Jesus], “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
We receive all sorts of messages from the culture in which we live that fullness of life is directly related to fullness of house, garage and storage locker (fullness of clothing is also suggested in many ways). If we want to consider ourselves successful we best be able to demonstrate that through an abundance of possessions (which often leads to emptiness of wallet and an abundance of debt). Some of the most profoundly contented and happy people I have ever met are living in Haiti. Haiti is by far one of the poorest countries in our hemisphere. Life is hard and possessions are few. Yet people seem to get by with much less than we might deem a fulfilled life. It is said in some third world countries "You people have all the watches but we have all the time." In a like manner it could be said by many "You people have all the stuff but we have all the joy." Why is it we think stuff (and all the attending responsibilities) are such a joy? So many have struck it rich yet still remained in emotional poverty. Will we ever learn?
It is said that if you want to make God laugh then tell God your plans. The rich man is all set for the next years of his life. He presumed years that weren't his to claim. What plans have we made? What intentions do we have for our days? We would do well to remember James 4:13-15. God's will is inextricably and intimately woven into our futures. We don't venture forth alone. We would do well to include God in our plans and include God's plans into our hopes and dreams. God has good plans for us. God leads us into the future. We would do well to be rich toward God by leaning into the future God is leading us into.
God teach us to count our possessions as blessings from you rather than a measure of our deserving or our worth. Help us share our possessions with all those in need. Lead us into the futures you have created for us especially into eternal life with Jesus. Amen.
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