Day 13 / Luke 12:13-21
By Gary and Sheila Clark
The Parable of the Rich Fool
Jesus, preaching a sermon, was interrupted by a man in the audience with a question concerning money and earthly possession. Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Greed is described as an intense selfish desire for far more than is needed of something such as money, power or food. Greed shows our ingratitude toward God which says, “God, you don’t provide enough for me. I want more! I deserve more.” Greed is failing to provide for others what was God’s before he gave it to us to use. 1 Timothy 6:10, tells us, “The LOVE of money is the root of all evil.” Matthew 6:24, helps us understand that we cannot serve both God and money.
Jesus told the crowd gathered around him a parable about a man whose fields produced such an abundant crop that his barns would not hold all the harvest. The man planned to build bigger barns so he could keep the entire harvest for himself. He never knew the joy of sharing with others. In Matthew 19:23-26, as Jesus speaks to his disciples he tells them that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. He goes on to say that with God all things are possible. 1 Timothy 6:17, instructs us not to put our hope in wealth but to put our hope in God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Could one reason that Jesus told this parable is because he really wants us to have JOY? Joy in its spiritual meaning is expressing God’s goodness Joy comes when we trust God and do not put our trust in our possessions, strength or ability. Nehemiah 8:10, assures us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit and comes when we trust God to take care of us. One key to joy is giving and helping others. In Matthew 25:34-40, Jesus tells the people who helped the hungry, thirsty, strangers. poor, sick and those in prison that the kingdom is prepared for them. Jesus said, ” … whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 6:19-34, instructs us not store up treasures on earth but to store up treasures in heaven. Many of us know people who work and send money back home. Acts 20:35, assures that it is more blessed to give than to receive. We all know from Matthew 6:21, that where our money is there our heart is also. When we give to help those in need we are sending money back home, or maybe we should say UP home. Those sending money back home receive great joy.
J – Jesus first
O – Others next
Y – Yourself last
We feel so very blessed to have seen this JOY in action for the last forty-eight years at Harpeth Hills, such a generous church sending money UP home and receiving much JOY in return!