Second Presbyterian Church

"The Rich Life:
Preaching From the Gospel of Luke"
February 20, 2005

Upcoming Events

Worship Schedule

Sermons

About the Church

• Accessibility to the Church

• Directions to the Church

• History of the Church

Church Staff

Groups & Organizations

• Boy Scouts of America - Troop 175

• Choirs

• Presbyterian Women

• SPY (Second Presbyterian Youth)

Committees

• Building & Grounds

• Church Growth

• Congregational Care & Fellowship

• Education & Nurture

• Finance

• Office & Personnel

• Stewardship

• Witness & Service

• Worship & Celebration

Ad Hoc Committees

• Architectural - Engineering

• Building Fund

Presbyterian Internet Sites of Interest

Virginia Links

• Virginia Cities

Web Site Statistics

Site Map

Second Presbyterian Church Homepage

Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2005 » Sermons for February 2005 » Sermons from the Series on Luke

#41 in the Series on Luke
The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• Isaiah 41: 11-14
• Luke 12: 13-34

We are a culture that is obsessed with wealth. If we are not wealthy, then we tend to pretend to be wealthy. In reality, the population of wealthy people has grown over the past 15 years. The number of millionaires continues to grow. On the other hand the number of people who are becoming poorer has also increased. How, one might ask can this be the case? The middle class American is disappearing. They are disappearing in two ways: one, some are graduating into the wealthy group. Two, some are becoming poorer and poorer.

But we are a culture that is obsessed with wealth. Just sit down and watch television. Most of the time the lifestyles shown are ones that most of us could never afford.

In comparison to many areas of the world, most Americans are very, very wealthy. In some countries wealth is measured by having some food, having a thatch roof over one's mud or stone hut. It is measured by whether or not you have a spare pair of undergarments. Many in third world countries do not have the luxury of spare clothing, or shoes, or a coat. What they have is what they have on their backs. We are fortunate; we have indeed been blessed by our Lord. Even the poorest among us have food, clothing, and some type of shelter, except for those who are out on the street because they cannot acquire the right medication for their mental illness.

In our scripture lesson this morning Jesus warns us about two interconnected truths:

• The first truth is that covetousness is a form of idolatry; it breeds anxiety.
• And anxiety is an expression of a person's lack of faith in God.

Two brothers quarrel over their father's inheritance. One seeks Jesus to be judge and arbiter over the dispute. Jesus refuses to arbitrate and warns him that he is in danger of becoming covetous. After all "one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Really? It never ceases to amaze me how contemporary these 2,000-year-old scriptures are! This is a contemporary issue, not an ancient one! We are the generation that believes wealth is what increases our purpose in life! Evidently, there were those back then who thought the same. And the example is the parable of the Rich Fool. Now this farmer was a good, conscientious farmer. There is no indication that he was criminal. There is no indication that he was abusive to his hired hands and slaves. It's just that he was a fool, why? Because he deluded himself into believing that he was self-sufficient. His farm had a bumper crop, abundance to overflowing. (You can bet that the weather aided and abetted his bountiful harvest!) "What Shall I do? I know! I'll build bigger barns and silos; store everything in it; sit back on my haunches; and eat, drink, and be merry!"

Now what's wrong with that! Who here wouldn't want to reap the bounty of Lotto South, sit back and live high on the hog while the money keeps rolling in? Here is what's wrong: "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required." (Luke 12: 48). The rich farmer was wealthy almost beyond measure. But not for one moment did that farmer consider sharing his wealth with those who were so dirt poor! He only thought of himself and his own pleasures. He never considered the desperate needs of his neighbors! And what good was this wealth if he were dead? It was useless to him! Covetousness is idolatry, because it expresses that our love for material possessions is greater than our love for God.

It reminds me of a recent popular quote: "He who dies with the most toys wins." Really? What has he really won? The point is he still died and he could take nothing with him!

Now, let's talk about anxiety. I am an expert on anxiety. I know how to feel anxious. Now some anxiety is good. It is like blood pressure. No one wants his or her blood pressure to be too high; it can cause a heart attack, or a stroke. On the other hand, no one wants their blood pressure to be too low, either. When it gets too low, you die! We all need some anxiety. We need to have concern for others. We need to have concern for the welfare of our families. We need to have concern for the ministry of our congregation and its mission to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But in this passage, Jesus is talking about being anxious about certain, specific matters. Jesus is warning us not to become anxious about food, or clothing, or all the material things that we need to live here on God's great planet, Earth.

Why not? Why is it not good to be anxious about these things? Simply put, it demonstrates a serious lack of faith in God and His providence! Jesus stated it quite clearly, "Your Father (God) knows that you need them." (v 30) In other words, when we worry about these basics in life we are saying that God doesn't care! God doesn't give a whip about our welfare! This, brothers and sisters, is a decided demonstration of lack of faith! It expresses no trust in God's ability, or desire to provide for our basic material needs! Serious problem.

What's the remedy? Jesus is quite straightforward about that too. "Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (v31) When we go about seeking the will of God for our lives we are expressing our trust in a loving, providing God who knows and takes care about our needs.

It should be easy for us. We already have so much provision for our needs, at least in comparison with the rest of the planet, that it should be easy for us to express our gratitude to God for what we have and share our bounty with those who have less. And many of us already do this.

Jesus is calling us to a simpler life. A life that expresses our open dependence upon God and our trust that God does indeed provide. Jesus is calling us to give up worshiping our material wealth by trying to be so hypocritically self-sufficient. When we are honest with ourselves we have nothing, not even the breath we take, except that they all come from our loving Heavenly Father who seeks to be gracious to us. Remember, all the material wealth that we have is on loan. We do not own it. It belongs to God and has been placed in our lives for us to be good, generous stewards.

We are rich beyond measure. Not because of any of our material wealth, be it great. No, we are rich beyond measure when we treasure the kingdom of God, rather than our possessions; when we love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.