True Riches
Live Audio File
9th Sun. of Luke Nov. 19, 2023 Luke 12: 15-21
In today’s short 7 verse Gospel we get a very direct lesson on what true wealth consists of. We see that our possessions do not equal true riches. We learn the difference between earthly wealth and eternal riches, and the purpose of earthly temporal wealth. We also learn that at our death, only those riches gathered and stored in the kingdom of God will be of any value.
The rich man who was blessed with bumper crops was right on track when he realized he had been blessed with more than he could take care of, and started making plans to properly protect his grain windfall. The problem in his planning was that it all focused on his own temporal earthly benefit. This would turn out to be very short-term thinking as his allotted time here was finished, and he had done nothing to prepare for his eternal home. This parable would be known as that of the WISE rich man if he had said “Soul, I have been given a great gift to protect. I will distribute it to the poor and needy and thereby convert this earthly wealth into true heavenly riches, where no thief approaches or moth destroys.” For this man who already had far more than enough of everything, the safest place, and the least expensive way to solve his bumper crop issue would have been to store it in the stomachs of the poor. He would have yielded a huge eternal windfall!
There is an instructive story about a remote tribe who every year would find a stranger from a far away land and invite them in to be their king for the next year. He would come in and be given anything he asked for. He would rule the kingdom and live the most luxurious life as their king. What he didn’t know however, and what was carefully kept a secret from him, was that at the end of the year, he would be deposed and shipped off to a deserted Island in the remote North of their Kingdom. One wise man who was serving his 1-year term as king, started searching diligently to discover what happened to the last king, and finally found a true friend who explained his intended fate at the end of the year. The king immediately put his efforts into gathering and shipping everything he would need to this island, so that when he was deposed and shipped off, he would have all the provisions needed to continue to live the life of a king when he arrived. This man was most wise in that he never focused on building the good life in the short temporary period of his rule, but on preparing for his future true and lasting home.
Avarice, love of money, Alms giving, material selfishness… How often are we presented with the same teaching directly from the mouth of Christ Himself in the Sunday gospel lesson? Christ warns us about this great danger of greed, of not sharing our material wealth with others, far more than He speaks of any other topic. I did a quick look at the Sunday Gospel readings for the last 3 months. Of the 13 Gospel lessons, here is a quick summery of eight of them;
– We were shown the terrible fate of the man who was forgiven 30 billion dollars and then wouldn’t forgive a $20,000 debt.
– We met the rich young ruler who lived an exemplary life but couldn’t let go of his riches follow Christ. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” Christ tells us.
-We encountered the Wicked Vinedressers, who would rather kill the Landowners Son (Christ Himself) than share a portion of their goods with the rightful owner – God!
– God gives a wedding feast to end all feasts, but the rich are too occupied to bother coming, only the poor and downtrodden value the invitation and come.
-The Sower comes sowing generously, encountering various soils, but even the good soil seldom produced, because it was choked out by “the cares, riches and pleasures of life.”
– We were presented with the torment in the eternal kingdom, of the nameless Rich man who had lived upon the earth in sumptuous splendor and selfishness, and of the most blessed suffering Lazarus, who was joyfully carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.
– We were given the good Samaritan, (representing Christ) who acted to provide all that was needed to bring the ½- dead man (us) back to health. We were told to “go and do likewise.”
Do you see a bit of a pattern? Eight of these 13 lessons, over 60%, could fit into the beginning and concluding statements that summarize today’s lesson. Luke 12:15 starts off todays reading, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. And Luke 12:20,21 then concludes the lesson, “But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided? So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
It is not so important how much we give as that we learn to give, that we get started on this godly path of Almsgiving. Of course our giving should be proportional with what we have, but the sacrifice is more important than the amount. Remember no one gave more than the widow’s mite. We see in these Gospel lessons, the main reason we are to give is not really so much to support our Church, our projects, or even the poor, they are just providing the vehicle. We are to give generously, testing and stretching our generosity, that we might learn to trust God. As we imitate Him, participating in His infinite generosity, we grow more into His likeness through our almsgiving. Just as much as prayer and fasting, it is a blessed action that changes our hearts. If we have much, we should be eagerly looking for opportunities to give more. As St. John Chrysostom said, “The rich exist for the sake of the poor, the poor exist for the salvation of the rich.” If we have little, we should still make a discipline of giving, to free us from over-focusing on our needs and help us to rely more on the providence of God.
Orthodoxy is Paradoxy. Our task is to unlearn much of what has been drilled into us from our birth, especially from our North American marketing culture. A bigger house, better toys, dining at the finest restaurants…this is what we should be seeking with all our heart soul and mind according to every advertisement in print, radio or electronic media. We will then supposedly have arrived at “the good life” well summed up in the classic line in verse 19 “Soul you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” To which God Himself delivers His judgement, “FOOL.”The wealthiest and most powerful lie side by side in the grave with the poor and most destitute. Their actions will be all that matters. As the reporter was told in answer to his question about how much did Rockefeller leave behind? “All of it.”
If not used properly, for others, our earthly wealth will simply lay in a useless heap at our passing. It’s wasted potential becoming a condemnation of our life, rather than a great means of securing true heavenly treasure. Listen to what our Lord tells us a little later in the chapter, (Luke 12:33) “Sell what you have and give alms, provide yourselves money bags that do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail.” Christ also tells us (Luke 16:9) “And I say to you, make friends for yourself with unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.” For when we are finished our earthly course, the only thing we take with us, is that which we have given away.
May we be blessed to have a large greeting party of those we helped while alive, joyfully meet us as our soul enters the home of the blessed. During this advent season let us dig a little deeper than usual and experience the true blessing of sacrificial giving, pushing a little further than we are comfortable with. We have a sister Church over at St. Herman in Langley that is presently greatly in need. That would be a good place to practice. If you want to learn more we also have a book study starting this Tuesday evening on “Money and Salvation,” come on out! May God bless and bring us many opportunities to invest in the Kingdom of God this Nativity season! Glory to Jesus Christ!