Consider the Important Things
The Scripture lesson today is taken from St. Luke 12:15. The backstory to this verse can be found in verses 13 and 14.
Jesus is teaching, and a man approaches Jesus, asking him to intervene in a dispute between himself and his brother. The father has passed away, and a dispute has arisen over the division of the inheritance.
We can observe that during this time, it was customary for the eldest son to receive two-thirds and the younger son to receive one-third of the inheritance. The eldest son was expected to assume all the responsibilities of the deceased father. Yet here we have the younger brother desiring a “splitting” of the inheritance. Jesus does not directly address the brother who approached him, but Jesus uses this moment to teach about the perils of greed.
Jesus told a parable about greed. In verses 16-21 is a detailed story about a “certain rich man” who has plenty of everything, and this year his crops are especially plentiful. He had so much that he had no place to store his abundance. He thought to himself that he would tear down his existing barns and build another barn for his goods. He had big plans because he had a lot of stuff!
The story goes on to talk about the plans of the rich man, and how he said that after he stores his grain, he will have a party — you know, “eat, drink, and be merry.” On the surface, it appears that the rich man has all he needs. But, rich, poor, or in between, the wealth of the soul is more important than the things of this world.
In the parable, the man with so much did not live to enjoy his incredible wealth. It was left behind for someone else to enjoy. His earthly life ended before he could execute his plans to build a bigger storage building.
There is an essential message for all of us found in Mark 8:36 (NIV) – “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
Jesus, in his parable, talked about putting too much emphasis on material possessions. All around us, in commercials, the news and even music, the focus on creature comforts and possessions is prevalent. We are told to eat, drink and be merry. Yet, this existence is temporary, and all that we can see and touch is temporary.
Those things that are most important are those that are unseen by human eyes. It is essential, as Christians, that we strive to embody the character that represents God to a world that does not know Him. It is crucial to demonstrate integrity in a world that often struggles to understand its importance.
It is essential to love and help the “least of these” because we are a light in a dark world, and it is crucial to remember that we have an eternal soul to attend to.
In Job 1:21 (NIV), Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job, of course, was correct in that no material possessions will follow us into eternity. Still, there is a word that expands on this thought found in Revelation 14:13. That Scripture found in the New International Version says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
What we do in this life matters, and we must attend to the important things, the things of the spirit!
