Readings:
Sermon:
There’s a saying that the more space you have the more likely you are to fill it. So it doesn’t matter how big the space is, whether it’s a box, a room or a house, you will somehow find enough stuff to fill it. It seems though that this saying wasn’t one that was known to the rich man in today’s parable. He enthusiastically builds his bigger barns for his abundant harvest, thinking that this will be the solution to his storage issues. You don’t get to hear whether his new barn is actually big enough. Instead what you do hear is a cutting judgement that this bigger is better approach is judged harshly by God, and the rich man’s life is brought to a close without him enjoying all the fruits of his labours.
The man is judged not just because of the size of his barns. That would be harsh especially if he was just being a sensible farmer and wanting a safe place to keep all that he had grown. Farmers throughout time have done that, knowing how important it is to store things up for the leaner times that always come. What the rich man is judged for is his apparent lack of concern or care for those around him. His focus is all on himself and his own needs. His barns are full and he can eat, drink and be merry, without a care in the world. It is this selfishness that comes under scrutiny and is not looked upon favourably. There is judgement for those who store up treasures for themselves and are not rich towards God.
But what didn’t he do? If the man had been rich towards God maybe he would have been able to see the image of God in his neighbour, in the person right in front of him, and would have been able to recognise if that person was in need. And more than that he would have been able to meet that need in a practical way. And maybe if the man had been rich towards God he would have known that God is all about community and being connected and not living in isolation, so would have been better placed to do all that he could as a member of his community to better serve that community. Sharing his assets and the abundance that he had with a generosity that would have made a real difference to his own community. But the rich man doesn’t do any of that and remains focussed on the accumulation of his own wealth for his own benefit.
It’s interesting that the parable Jesus shares comes in response to a question about a contested inheritance. In response to a question about material wealth Jesus replies with a spiritual response about being rich towards God, above everything else. Your focus is being moved from the material to the profoundly spiritual, from the ‘some time in the future’ scenario to the here and now. There is an immediacy about Jesus’ response which can challenge you to think about how you might be rich towards God right now?
Countries and aid agencies worry all the time about the fair distribution of food, medicine and vital supplies across the places of need. It might be that today’s parable makes you think about those important social issues and makes you want to do more to help charities and organisations who support those who live in places where conflict, climate crisis, disaster and poor economic outcomes make it a challenge for everyone to have enough of what they need. A financial donation, signing a petition, raising awareness of the issues, are all ways that we can bring the parable to life and maybe create a more equal world for everyone.
You might want to look closer to home and think about what you can do to support the community of which you are a part, to help others see God in the people around them. Being rich towards God might mean that you give your time or material support to a local Foodbank. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a tin of baked beans or a cash donation, because it is the giving out of what you have to someone who has less which is the important thing. It will be up to you how far you take this.
It’s a challenging message but one that can help you to think about others before yourself. To think about what is really valuable to you and how you might use it for God’s glory and kingdom today.
Questions:
- In what ways do you worry about building bigger barns?
- How can you be rich towards God and serve your neighbour