Money is the root of all evil?

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Luke 12:13-21; The Parable of the Rich Fool

Pastor Doug Holtz

Money is the root of all evil!

Money? Fibers woven carefully together to form a rectangle?

     Metal minted into round decorated objects, sometimes used to measure tire life?

     Much better than the barter system.

          How many head of cattle for a vacation in NYC?

          How would you get them there?

          And you think NYC is congested now?

“Money is the root of all evil.” A horrible misquote.

I Timothy 6:10 “The LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

Money is actually a wonderful thing.

     Makes life in this modern era possible.

          It can provide for the family.

          Given to others in need.

          Create jobs, fund important research.

     But it can’t produce abundant life

          Peace and satisfaction we all seek.

          It always comes up short.

The LOVE of money can lead to disaster:

Jesus’ parable today isn’t about money.

     It is about greed. Listen to the conversation the man has again—

not with a neighbor or friend

but with himself.

“I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, I have ample goods laid up for many years; I can relax, eat, drink, be merry.’”

This is a completely self-involved conversation.

Not only is he talking to himself

     He is having a conversation with himself

          Inside a conversation with himself.

So amidst all the wealth,

     All the planning for bigger and better

          What’s missing?

Relationships with others.

And this leads to isolation and loneliness

     Which then leads to buying more stuff

          Which leads to loneliness and isolation.

But if this is so bad for us, why does it persist in life, in society, in ourselves?

     We’re only human.

          With the doubts and neediness that goes with it.

The commercial world builds on these insecurities. You remember this gem?

     Wisk. Ring around the collar!

Identify the problem. Magnify it into a huge dilemma.

Sell the immediate solution, complete with smiles!

And it works, doesn’t it?

     And we’re hooked. We go out and buy Wisk.

Even though we know the blessings of a good relationship

     There’s nothing instant about it.

          We can’t go to Walmart or Target to buy it.

We substitute the material for the immaterial.

     It’s right there in front of us

          Culture tells us there’s nothing better.

So… what are we to do?

     This brief time is just the beginning.

     Yes, it’s an uncomfortable subject

          We all know we can somehow do better

              We need to talk about it.

Even though it should be always on our radar

     “Stewardship season” is coming.

          So do we pull out the usual charts?

              Have feel-good talks?

     Or will we begin a process of change.

          If we are really the church,

              Why can’t we really work on this with each other?

So let’s start talking about the proper use and dangerous abuse of material wealth and wonder together how our community—by studying scripture and having the difficult conversations—can help us live into the kind of abundant life that material wealth can support but cannot produce.

And let’s start looking for signs of the abundant life that Jesus describes in the gospels.

     Relationship, community, love, purpose

          These things are less tangible than stuff

          But far more powerful

Let’s become aware of God’s blessings to us.

In fact, let’s start today!

     The back doors have been cleaned.

          (I still have them, they will be used)

     Consider ways God has blessed you.

          The quiet conversations, the loving relationships, the joy in community.

Notice them, name them, give thanks for them.

     Post-it notes.

During the week: keep a simple log, take a couple of minutes at the end of the day to pray and give thanks. Send a note or email thanking others for their blessing to you.

     It’s a start. A really good start.

     And it could be fun!

And this is just the beginning.   

     We’ll do more this autumn.

          Build REAL community.

              Count blessings together.

                   Lift one another up.

I have ideas.

     I’ll bet you do too!

          Email me, drop me a note.

              Let me know what you’re thinking.

     I hold your thoughts in the highest regard.

          Maybe you’ve seen something work elsewhere.

              Maybe you have an idea so crazy it just might work.

                   Let’s share our ideas.

                        Throw them against the walls and see what might stick.

Counting my blessings begins with the people who surround me.

     All of you sitting here today.

          Your willingness to step out.

              To take a chance. Be a little vulnerable.

                   Determines where this church is going.

Let’s stop looking toward money and stuff for happiness/contentment

     Let’s look toward God and each other for the true abundant life.

          Let’s live as people who live within a promise.

              Let’s live God’s vision.            

Let’s be the church. God’s church.

Amen.