Jesus said, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;
for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
We can chase after the winds of ephemeral, temporal
pleasures. Or we can let the winds of the Holy Spirit push us toward the treasures
that do not rust, disappear, burn down, or disappoint.
Luke 12:13-21
To understand the laws of
inheritance found in the Torah, often an heir would come to a religious leader
or teacher, like Jesus, when a question about how to divide an inheritance came
up. Jewish law allowed for the religious leader to be the arbiter and demand
that an inheritance be distributed equitably. However, Jesus would not allow
himself to be triangulated in this family argument, but took the opportunity to
warn this man and those who were listening about the danger of greed. . . .
Jesus then tells the parable of the
rich fool. This man, having produced more than his barns could hold, finds
himself in a dilemma: what to do with this abundance? Rather than sharing it
with others, he decides to tear down his existing barn to build a bigger one
and then rest on his laurels, never having to worry about the future. However,
God had other plans—the man would die that night. Just as the Teacher in
Ecclesiastes concluded, the man died before enjoying his bounty. . . . [C]an we
find hope in the promise of life when our riches are toward God rather than
toward the things of this earth? – Carrie L. Lewis La Plante
Ecclesiastes 1:2,
12-14; 2:18–23
Building bigger and bigger barns is a common human
undertaking. Even when Ecclesiastes was written (ca. 250-167 BCE), life’s toil
could seem meaningless. “All is vanity and a chasing after wind,” sums up the
view.
Everything that humans do is like
chasing the wind. It never lasts and it can never fulfill us. We spend our time
seeking out wisdom, but the quest is unhappy, because gaining all knowledge and
skill is simply not attainable in this life. Pleasure is also put to the test,
looking for self-fulfillment in many things but with no satisfaction. . . . To
top it all off, the Teacher realizes that ultimately, his toil will be turned
over to another at his death (who may be undeserving and foolish with it), and
he will not be able to reap the good that he sows. What is the point of
straining at my work everyday? For what does my labor, and by extension, my
life, count? We are left to wonder. – Carrie L. Lewis La Plante
Colossians 3:1-11
[B]aptism has significance for our
lives and should affect the way in which we behave. We have died to the life
that worships the things of this earth and that indulges in idolatrous vices
(vv 5–8). Rather we have been raised with Christ and are “hidden in Christ with
God” (v 3). Therefore, we have been given a new life that is Christ-centered,
and are to be clothed with the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility,
meekness, patience, forgiveness, love and peace. When we have allowed the vices
to die and concentrate on the virtues of our life in Christ, we are then able
to live with one another in the image of the creator, as a family where race,
ritual, culture and social divisions no longer matter. As Christians, we are
not immune to the trials and temptations of this earthly life. However, this
advice reminds us that we have been given defenses to face those snares.
Serious spiritual formation heeds this advice. – Carrie L. Lewis La Plante
Carrie L. Lewis La Plante, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church (ELCA) in
Indianola, Iowa, has written for Currents
in Theology and Mission as well as for Homily
Service.
Homily Service 40, no. 9 (2007): 3-12.
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