Eighth Sunday after Pentecost (C) 2019

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Luke 12:15-20
Theme: God’s Valuations



Dear friends in Christ Jesus,

Divine truth is never antiquated. From the first word of God in Genesis to His closing promises in Revelation, the teachings of the Scripture are always relevant. The challenge often is understanding the context and how it applies in a contemporary way. The Bible is full of historical events that may now seem distant, but the same God rules now as did then. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever.”1 As much as human nature craves a certain degree of change (indeed, changes can be exciting and invigorating) learning to appreciate eternal truths and their implications brings its own kind of excitement.

As much as we’d like to think it’s possible, the fundamental nature of people doesn’t change. Definitions of sin may be debated, redefined, denied, or ignored- and this happens in real time- but the human-divine dynamic remains unaltered. Sinners are still sinners and trying to change the definitions or move the goal posts doesn’t actually change reality. Humanity as a whole has always had an inflated sense its abilities. The Tower of Babel stands out as a notorious biblical example. Collectively, our ambitions typically out-pace our capacities. When I say “ambitions”, I’m not meaning the godly use of our energies and resources. I mean our warped perspective on the way things are valued and how we think we can attain them.

It’s hard to find a parable of Jesus that is more readily applicable than the one He speaks today. Frank, and relevant, there is no mistaking the point Jesus wishes to make. The wealthy farmer has problem. He has more grain than he can store. What does he decide to do? “‘I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and all my goods.”2 Now, that seems reasonable- it’s a business decision- and on the surface of it there isn’t anything particularly ungodly about it. The next description of his attitude reveals the deeper issue. “And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’”3 The response from God is direct and sobering, “But God said to him, ‘You fool!’ This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself.’”4

Now, the man isn’t labeled as a fool because he was uneducated or ignorant. He was probably competent and enterprising. He was called a fool because he didn’t understand that which was of greatest value. The warning here is against idolatry. An idol is anything people put their trust in other than the true God. When hope, joy, meaning, and purpose are sought in material things, or people, idolatry is being practiced. The problem isn’t money per se. Money is merely a tool, an instrument, a means given by God for our stewardship. The problem is the attitude towards it- the greed and selfishness which is so prevalent in the human heart. The Church Father St. John Chrysostom once said that the poor are not those who have little, but those who want much; and the rich are not those who have much, but who are content with little. Discontentedness, malcontent, is common regardless of material status. The wealthy are often just as discontented as the poor. As the image on the front of the bulletin says, “Some people are so poor, all they have is money.”

Dear friends, none of us should be so arrogant or naïve as to think that we don’t need to repent of the sin of idolatry. It is the chief sin and is indicative of unbelief. Remember, unbelief lies at the heart of all actual sin. We shouldn’t think either, that we’re not affected by this materialistic mindset the farmer is condemned for. Materialism absolutely saturates our culture. It requires constant vigilance to avoid the temptation of being drawn into it. St. Paul directs the focus of the baptized away from temporary things when he says today, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”5

But that doesn’t mean we hide ourselves away or sit around staring into the sky dreaming of what heaven will be like. We have vocations. And our vocations involve the stewardship of all of God’s blessings. When we properly understand that we are stewards, then the proper valuation of things follows suit. Remember, faith is not self-interested. It is not self-serving. Faith is ‘interested’ in the truths of God. It rests in His promises. It seeks to serve Him by serving one’s neighbour. Faith is not an independent, solitary reality. It exists only in relationship, firstly to God, then in relationship to others.

Dear friends, no one can have an exclusive relationship with the Almighty because faith necessarily entails the desire to see God’s love extended to others. We cannot serve God directly. He doesn’t need anything we can offer. The verticality of our faith is proven genuine by its horizontal expression. It’s a fanciful little delusion to sit back in isolation and say to one’s self, “I believe in God, so everything is ok. I’m happy and comfortable in my own little world running my own affairs without any of the complications of dealing with others. I’m happy with my self-interested faith. God can be God, I can be me, and others can see to themselves!”

Jesus said that it was easier for the camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. But everything must be understood in context. It’s impossible for anyone at all to enter heaven under his or her own power. The debt of sin is too great. The obligation is humanly insurmountable. The Son of God was required to meet the demand. And He met it willingly and whole-heartedly. What does the Scripture say, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He become poor, so that you though His poverty might become rich.”6 How did He become poor? He divested Himself of the divine glory of heaven and came to our fallen, sin-polluted world. He submitted to a criminal’s death by crucifixion. He rose again and He now has stewardship over all creation and especially His church. Christ values His church by freely forgiving sins and feeding her with His own body and blood. And He gifts His people with the certainly of salvation. Don’t ever underestimate the value of a clear conscience. Peace of mind about our relationship with God is worth far more than money could ever buy. The farmer did not understand this critical truth.

Dear friends, the promises of the Spirit to us are as ageless as God Himself. His word never loses its potency. This world with all its pomp and circumstance, its death and destruction will pass away, but a new creation awaits. As believers deteriorate towards death- as far as their physical and mental capacities go- they simultaneously advance towards life. For the followers of Christ Jesus physical death is the gateway to eternal life. Money can’t buy heaven. Thankfully, God doesn’t value things the way humans typically do! Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost
4 August 2019
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Hebrews 13:8 2 Luke 12:18
3 Luke 12:19 4 Luke 12:20
5 Colossians 3:1-4 6 2 Corinthians 8:9