04 August 2019
Luke 12:13-21
Possessed by one’s possessions
“A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” – Luke 12:15
Let Your continual mercy, O Lord, cleans and defend Your Church; because it cannot continue in safety without Your help protect and govern it always by Your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We need to have a balance in life. We need to learn how to handle our possessions. So that our possessions will not handle us. Jesus is not condemning possessing stuff. There is no virtue in being poor, needy or devoid of material things. It is a matter of keeping perspective. Do we possess our possessions? Or do our possessions posses us? Are you a slave to material goods?
It is not a question of being rich or having fabulous homes, expensive jewelry, and having a high income. It is not only the super rich who can become obsessed with possessions. Even those of modest means can become enslaved to their possessions – no matter how many or how few they may be. To be possessed by your possessions means.
1. You are greedy for possessions. “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” V.15
There are two commandments focused on coveting; our longing for more. Not in the abundance of your possessions does your life exist. Remember, riches attract greed!
Can you handle success? Can you handle wealth? Most people who strike it rich winning the lottery are broke within a few years. It wasn’t the money per se. It was their priorities. It was their attitude toward their great abundance.
Your life does not consist in the abundance of your of possessions. Living in a consumed, consumer society that shouts at us. Every day, “you need more of this! You won’t be happy without that! You need to look this way! And have these things! In order to be accepted. Respected. And valued by others.
I’m reminded of a student who went to school with Lydia her senior year of high school…Who brought along with her 100 pairs of shoes. And complained. That she hadn’t a thing to wear! Really! Yet the things of this world are passing away. Only that which is of Christ, will last forever.
Can you remember what you received for Christmas when you were seven? Or four? Or twelve? So why do you think your children will be scared for life if they don’t have the latest selling item this year? Remember back to that day. At the time, what you received might have been the most wonderful thing in the world. But now, looking back and reflecting. You realized that what was truly important was having the people who mattered most in your life with you.
2. To be possessed by your possessions means you never get enough possessions. “He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.” V.17
In just a few weeks it will be here once again, college move-in day. It’s amazing how much “stuff” an 18-year old can cram into a dorm room! What always amazed me when we would move our children and their “stuff” back to campus were those students who would arrive in a huge honking SUV pulling a U-hall, which is bigger than the dorm room itself! And to top it off. – That student. Has a roommate. Who had come with all of their stuff as well.
You can never be satisfied if you always want more.
You receive an e-mail from a Mr. Abukakar. He claims to be the personal friend to the son of the late king of Nigeria. He writes that you were recommended to him as an honest and reliable person. To whom he can entrust a sum of money.
$20 million dollars. Need to be wired out of the country immediately. For your help, he will give you 20% of the total. He is confident you would not keep all of the money. He asks you to send him your address, fax and phone number, and your bank count number. He assures you of privacy. He hopes to hear from you immediately. Why do so many fall for such a scam? We are all tempted by greed.
One author put it this way. “If you look carefully you will see that there is one thing and only one thing that cause unhappiness. The name of that thing is Attachment. What is an attachment? Ann emotional state of clinging caused by the belief that without some particular thing or some person you cannot be happy…Here is a mistake that most people make in their relationships with others. They try to build a steady nesting place in the ever-moving stream of life.” - Anthony de Mello "The Way to Love"
3. To be possessed by your possessions means you trust your possessions to give the good life. “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years, Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’” V.19
Greed seeks worldly things. This must not be equated with true living. We stumble when material possessions become a substitute for the proper object of a person’s search and worship - with is God. – Greed breeds idolatry.
Jesus addressed the man on his own pragmatic terms. He is dealing not with matters of the kingdom. Or of life beyond death. But with the question of the disposition of his possessions. What will happen to all my stuff? This underscores the fact that in the end he will have to “leave it all.” Then it will be someone else’s problem. Walk into any antique shop. It is filled with other people’s stuff.
You will never see a U-haul following a hearse. Solomon reminds us of this reality in the book of Ecclesiastes. “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.” – Ecclesiastes 2:18-19
Since you can’t take it with you. Since things will not bring lasting happiness. We trust in that one thing needful. The only thing that can cause true contentment and joy. This is found in the person of Jesus Christ who said, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” –John 10:10
Contentment. Peace. Happiness. Is not found in the amount and the value of possessions but in Christ. “Trust not in princes. – They are but mortal.”
The man in our parable found contentment in his belongings and wealth. Your treasure is in Christ. The world says, “Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” As a follower of Christ you can proclaim, “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we live!” Look to Jesus. Where He may be found. There and there alone will you find lasting peace and joy.
Under Jesus’ protection. And by His gifts. You can experience the best life can offer. Jesus can give a whole new meaning to living. Because He provides full satisfaction. And perfect guidance. He is your sufficiency. With Him. There is both contentment and peace.
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Words – 1,275
Passive Sentences –7%
Readability – 82.5%
Reading Level -4.0
Luther’s Seal © Higher Things
Collect for Pentecost 10, Lutheran Worship copyright © 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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