Luke
12:13-21— Under the
theme “Possessed by possessions,” Jesus teaches that possessions can cause a
man to lose his soul.
Earthly wealth in terms of one’s possessions is not indicative
of a strong and abiding faith. It may prove the opposite to be the case as one’s
wealth becomes his idol.
In the parable of the rich fool Jesus said, “A man’s life does not consist in the
abundance of his possessions”; which runs contrary to popular American
Evangelicalism which equates wealth with faith.
If life does not consist of material goods, of what
does life consist? Most people feel that money is the key to real living. After
winning the Irish Sweepstakes, a woman exclaimed, “Now I’m going to start living!” People need to know what makes life
worthwhile.
Luke will remind us (See Luke 9:51; 19:28) that Jesus’
ministry was a journey to Jerusalem and the cross. As He went, however, our
Lord revealed Himself by mighty deeds of mercy and especially in this section
of the gospel, by teaching. Although it is difficult to determine the exact
geographical and chronological context of the various episodes in this section
of Luke’s gospel, each of them exemplified an aspect of Christ’s ministry as
first defined in Luke 4:18, “to preach the Gospel to the poor.” In this particular reading Jesus teaches us
that the Gospel is not a message concerning earthly possessions.
Notice the repeated use of the pronoun “My”; “my fruits,” “my barn,” “my goods,” “my soul.” This man never sees beyond himself. He makes
himself his own god. Furthermore, he never sees beyond this world. Also his
plans are made on the basis of life in this world. Jesus calls this man “senseless,” “without reason,”
“without reflection or intelligence.”
He is without reason, because this night his life is to be demanded of him. To whom
will his possessions belong then? He has said, “My fruits,” and “my goods.” Now he is to be dispossessed at once. Life does
not consist of having possessions, but in having union with Christ.
For proper use of wealth: Almighty God, all that we possess is from
Your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor You with all we own, always
remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus Christ our Lord.[2]
Collect for Friday of the week of Pentecost 8: Hear us, O God in each unspoken prayer, as our hands reach out toward Thee, and we are still with awe before the sureness and the greatness of Thy love. Open our ears that the deep silence at the heart of life may be to us what Thou wouldst have it, the very sound o Thy passing; and take the dullness of our soul away. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen [3]-29 July, 2022
[1] The Crucifixion Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut copyright © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[2] Collect for the proper use of wealth, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect for Friday of the week of Pentecost 8, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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