2013-08-01 Daniel Daring 2013 articles 2012 articles
18th Sunday: Rich towards God
Ecclesiastes
1:2, 2:21-23; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21
The
majority of us can only dream about “a good crop”
(Luke 12:16) that would make us rich beyond our wildest imagination. Our
salaries are meager; we commute to work; we rent the cheapest apartments or are
forced to share a room; we opt for the simplest food available; and we still
have difficulties to make ends meet. Some of us try to pursue the dream of “a
good crop” by faithfully playing lottery, consulting stars, or asking the Lord
for a financial breakthrough. We are convinced that only accumulated wealth is
the key to that better world of VIPs, the first class seats, and a never ending
vacation.
Relying
on possessions
“Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (Luke 12:13). It is the only request in the Gospel which Jesus rejects. When a leper came and asked, “If you are willing, you can make me clean” (Mark 1:40) or a father pleaded, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live” (Mark 5:23), Jesus did not hesitate to respond. In this instance, however, he refuses and the reason is clearly stated: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).
Depending
on possessions has proven to be a shaky foundation. First, like all material
things, our possessions can break, get destroyed or get lost. There are natural
disasters, man-made tragedies and thieves. A story is told about a South African
miner, who invested all his savings in a big diamond, which he planned to trade
for cash and live happily ever after. ‘This diamond represents many years of
my hard work,’ was his comment, when people congratulated him for having such
a magnificent precious stone. Unfortunately, during his sea voyage to Europe,
the diamond accidentally fell overboard and the owner saw it disappear in the
sea. Second, like all living creatures we do not know the day and the hour.
Death can knock at the door of our life at the least expected moment. When we
think that we can finally take life easy, “eat, drink and be merry” (Luke
12:19), we are called to leave everything behind and cross to the other side.
Think about all those people whose plans of success were thwarted by that
unwelcome visitor. “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from
you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20). We
should always remember what James wrote in his letter: “What is your life? You
are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14).
Storing
treasures in heaven
American psychologist Abraham Maslow is famous for explaining the hierarchy of human needs. The hierarchy has one striking point, namely the focus on “self”. From the lowest needs of food, clothing, and shelter to the highest need of self-actualization, Maslow gives an impression that the way to fulfillment in life is self-centeredness. It is all about personal pronoun, “I”, “me”, “my”, “mine”, and “myself”. “What shall I do?”; “I have no place to store my crops.”; “I will tear down my barns . . . I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself . . .” (Luke 12:17-19). The rich fool was doing very well in the area of “self-actualization”. Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl challenged Maslow’s view by stating that it is in forgetting oneself and opting for challenging tasks that a person can find meaning in life. He called it self-transcendence, the highest among all human needs.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20). There is a legend about Thomas, the Apostle, who offered to build a beautiful palace for Gundafor, the king of India, but spent all the money given to him on the poor. When the fraud was discovered, Thomas was put in jail. The night before he was supposed to be executed, the brother of the king saw in a dream a beautiful palace in heaven. He asked to whom it belonged and the answer was: ‘To your brother.’
“He
who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he
has done” (Proverb 19:17). It seems that God also has a bank in heaven, but
the accounting is done differently than in our earthly banks. The amount
invested in “self” is deducted from our heavenly accounts; the amount
invested in “others” is added to our heavenly accounts. That is why Jesus
calls a very successful businessman a fool (Luke 12:20). Although his barns were
swelling with grain and goods, he was bankrupt towards God; he lived just for
himself.
Conclusion
I am amazed at the amount of books being published under the section of ‘self-help’ and ‘personal finances.’ We are told to be tougher, better organized, more independent, self-sufficient, and profit oriented. And I wonder how well this message goes with Christian values of sharing, community, and trusting God. Jesus calls us to be rich towards God (Luke 12:21). Maybe it is time to rediscover the roots of our Christian tradition and begin to write books under the sections of ‘other-help’ and ‘God’s financing.’ Or, perhaps, instead of writing, we could begin living out our Christian tradition by lending to God all our resources through reaching out towards others.
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