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Preached by Rev. Scott Porath, Immanuel, Eagle, NE
“Rich in Christ”
Contrary to popular belief, I (at times) like to listen. I like to sit back and listen to the conversations of people. Who does most of the talking? Do they spend most of the time talking about themselves, or the other person? Who dominates the conversation – either with the volume of their words – or the force of their words?
Today’s text is a conversation between Jesus and a certain “someone in the crowd” – a no name, it could be anyone, it could be YOU. “Teacher,” this certain *someone* says, “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Pretty brash words when you consider it – telling the Teacher what to do (more than that, telling God what to do!) In essence he’s saying, “just agree with me … say to my brother what I’ve been saying to him … tell him to give me the goods!”
Though we don’t know this certain “someone in the crowd” – Jesus’ knows him. He knows his heart, just as He knows yours. “MAN,” He says, putting him (and us) in our proper place (that of one who should listen to the words of the Teacher.) “Man,” listen to my warning: “Watch out and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Jesus, is not just “crying wolf” – there is a real danger here! Covetousness and greed have a way of sneaking up on you and imprisoning you. Not being satisfied with what God has given you, or desiring what God has given to others – is dangerous! It makes you a slave to a certain lifestyle of endless work and a lust for “more” things.
Do you see the danger? Do you agree that it is a danger for you? Do you confess that you are by nature greedy, never satisfied, always wanting more? If you say that you have no greed, you deceive yourself, and the truth is not in you.
Did you hear the truth God speaks into your ears? Your “life does not consist in the abundance of [your] possessions.” Your life does not consist in how much land you own, your financial portfolio, your house and its contents, your car and your toys. Take it ALL away – whether by flood or fire or war – and what you have left is your LIFE.
But what kind of life is that? Can you live without all that? You can’t imagine it, can you? Why? Because of idolatry. That’s what St. Paul calls it in Colossians 3:5 – “covetousness” is “idolatry.” Your life, as you have come to know it, is wrapped up in your possessions – either the ones you have, or the ones you don’t have but wish you did. Your life – WHO YOU ARE – is imprisoned by the idolatry of greed and covetousness. It is consumed by a worship of possessions, which have become for you a means of salvation.
Let’s get back to this “someone in the crowd” and the lesson of the Teacher. Listen closely to the conversation in the parable of Jesus.
“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself” (literally, the man is dialoging with himself, talking to no one but himself). ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store MY crops?’ And he said (to himself), I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger 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.’”
He dominates the conversation. It is all about what “I” will do. God is nowhere in sight – He doesn’t get a word in edgewise. That’s how conversations go when you are your own idol. He talks to himself. He agrees with himself. He justifies his greed. And all of this in isolation from God – rather than living “by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
“BUT GOD said to him” – to this rich man, to this certain “someone in the crowd” – to you. “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” ALL the possessions and goods are taken away and now it is just him, just you. Who is he now? Who are you?
I say to you, you are baptized into Christ Jesus. You have died with Christ in Holy Baptism and all your greed and covetousness is buried with Him. You are raised with Christ, a new man – to live in the freedom of His forgiveness.
St. Paul says that “your life is hidden with Christ in God.” What kind of life is that? One in which you freely confess that you are not the Teacher – that you don’t tell God what to do. A life surrounded with the constant enticement of possessions and the lust for “more” – and daily dying to those things and living by faith in Christ.
You are free in Christ to “seek the things that are above” – to “set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Whether God has given you abundant possessions, or few – you are free to rejoice in them, and to use them – not just for yourself, but for your family and your fellow man. Your possessions do not determine who you are – Christ does – and He sets you free to live.
Jesus, the Teacher, knows your heart. He knows that you struggle with covetousness and greed – that your mind is so easily fixed on earthly things. So the Teacher comes from heaven to earth to give you true and eternal treasures.
Through humble, earthly bread and wine – He gives you His Body and Blood – so that you may have heavenly things. For with this Body and Blood He pours out on you the abundance of His forgiveness – He gives you contentment – He clothes you with His righteousness – and showers you with His salvation.
Dearly beloved, you are RICH! Rich toward God in this life, and for eternity – for you are baptized – and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding, guards your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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