Luke 12:13–21
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 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.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 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. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 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?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
Reflection
Jesus isn't talking about the lazy people here. He is talking to those that are worried. This is not a passage to encourage one to be lazy and not care about anything. This is a passage that speaks to those worried about possessions and the needs of life such as food and clothing. This is a passage about the greedy and the rich in money and possessions.
What is important is the person. The goods that a person has, the food, the clothing, the shelter and the abundance are all blessings and gifts from God. Sure, it took work to compile these things. Work is good. But better than work is our calling from God to use the gifts and talents God has graciously given to us to bring glory to God. Better than work is our ability to praise God with what God has given us, not to acquire and hoard more and more for ourselves. For in a moment, our lives could cease and these worldly possessions would mean nothing. Our efforts to obtain more and more would come to nothing and cease... just in a moment.
The richness of life comes from God. It does not come from anything we can do or earn. So, we live our lives in relationship first with God and then with those God gives to us. The value in our lives comes from God and the people God gives to us. These relationships are the richness of life and the richness towards God.
Prayer
Lord, help me to keep my priorities straight. Help me to see what really counts. Keep me from falling into the trap of the rat race. Calm my greed for earthly things and build me up to come close to you and to those you give to me in the love of Jesus... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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