Greed vs. God

Greed vs God

August 1, 2010

Lectionary 18
Proper 13
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp

¹³Someone out of the crowd said, "Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance."   ¹⁴He replied, "Mister, what makes you think it's any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?"

 ¹⁵Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."
 ^16-19Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'   ²⁰"Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?'  ²¹"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."

The Message (MSG)  Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Last Sunday a marvelous sermon was preached by all of you as you brought gifts of non-perishable food items for Metro Care Ring and school supplies and toys for the Kids of Kandahar. I watched you as you watched one another respond to the call to be generous. There were multi-colored angelic halos (also known as Fruit Loops). As the Thomas Family came up, little Amelia humbly, proudly, reverently and graciously brought a big box of cereal up to the manger. Gifts of cereal for the One who is called the Bread of Life. It was Christmas in July. A similar joyful scene took place at the Bails Townhome Dedication. There was an amazing mix of people, corporate contributions, volunteers and moved together and called into action by the Spirit of God.
Now at the other end of the spectrum Jesus tells a story about a farmer who runs the Ponderosa. His barns and silos aren’t quite big enough for the bumper crop that has exploded onto his fields.. He’s had a great year. But as you and I know he doesn’t provide access to his excesses for   anyone but himself.
Listen to the words once again, "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God." It’s an amazing image isn’t it? You and I filling up one’s barn with self and not with God.  In order to defeat that notion and action of Greed, we often sing in church as the offering and gifts of bread and wine are brought forward, “create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me.” We pray, we hope, we ask to be filled with God and not with self.
The action is intentional and didactic. God gives us seeds to grow wheat which is then ground and baked into bread. God sends rain to the people.  We are called branches and connected to God who is the Vine. The fruit which is produced is harvested and combined together into a medley of tastes and colors. The bread and wine are brought forward with the monetary gifts of the people. God gives us raw materials. We in turn, in response offer to God what belongs to God. The gifts are then shared with all of God’s people. While we might be tempted to believe in the myth of scarcity it is reality that God is abundant with blessings, love and grace. Jesus says, “take eat, take drink, this is my body, this is my blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
Today we are talking about Greed. As you may know it is traditionally understood to be one of the Seven Deadly Sins. Greed or Avarice is joined by Pride, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Anger and Sloth.  Phyllis Tickle in her book Greed has written, “Indeed, Greed, by any name is the mother and matrix, root and consort of all other sins; and it is to this matriarch of our deadly clan that we turn our attention.”(pg. 15)  “The truth in this is that we in our Christianized culture are very conflicted about Greed, and she absolutely loves us for it, which is another thing that any treatise on her must acknowledge. For either a sin or a virus, conflict in one’s intended host is a compromising and very desirable thing, a fact that Greed appreciates far more astutely that we ever will.” (Page 22) http://bit.ly/b1Zozn
"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."
Something that I always appreciated in our pastors in Minneapolis is that when they spoke about specific sins or misconduct that they included themselves. So, what I liked was that they said “we did this or that…” and not “you do this or that.” And so it is in that spirit that I approach this specific sin of Greed. For it is something that we do!
To check out a morality play on GREED visit http://www.enrontheplay.com/
Three years ago, when I preached on this text http://h2odevos.blogspot.com/2010/07/god-sized-in-super-size-me-world.html  I concluded the sermon by saying

“I believe it really isn’t about square footage, ‘how big is your barn?’ or even ‘how much is enough?’ The question the parable is answering and asking at the same time is simple ‘who?’

Who are you? Who are you working for? Who is Jesus calling you to be? Who do you trust and believe in?  And at the same time, it is about praying that we might be “right sized” God-sized in a SuperSIZE ME World.

I know that you know and believe that happens as we “walk wet” through our lives remembering baptism, “marked with the cross of Christ, claimed, gathered and sent for the sake of the world.” We are fed and formed along the way by the Word which gives us comfort and direction. We gather around the table of the Lord where our Lord gives us life and promise. That is our story and our song.”

Ms. Colleen O’Conner wrote in THE DENVER POST this week,

“The rate of Colorado children living in poverty increased 50 percent between 2000 and 2008, compared with a 6 percent increase nationwide, according to 2010 Kids Count Data Book, an annual report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation that tracks how states have progressed — or regressed — over time in protecting the well-being of children.”

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_15609198?source=email

I am troubled and disturbed by such information. Which means there are people hungry and hurting in our community. That is why I feel very called to invite you and me to participate in Hunger Relief Day 101010 http://hrd101010.blogspot.com/   I am grateful for your response. God has richly blessed us and we can do more!

So listen to the words once again, "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”

The Church Council is studying a little booklet Rediscover Church: Ten Reasons why People Leave, and Why They are coming Back.

Reason #3 States: “I got tired of the church always asking me from me.” (pg. 8-9)

The author states, “We spend half our lives putting down cash or swiping our pieces of plastic for absolutely everything we consume, Yet, somehow we have this notion that church should be a place where we can be entertained, cared for, taught the Word of God, and served when we have trouble-but it shall all come free.”

There is a line today in our sending hymn God of Grace and God of Glory, “rich in things and poor in soul.”  Those words call you and me into accountability. They invite us to be a part of the solution. We’re commanded and invited to see Christ in the hungry, the poor and the sick (Matthew 25).

St. Paul wrote to the Galatians, (chapter 5)

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
²²By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Be filled and fill your barns with these fruits! For that is being filled with GOD!

Amen

If you want to check out some good OT passages about concern for the poor, please read:

^“9When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. ¹⁰You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.
¹¹You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. ¹²And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD”. Leviticus 19:9-12

^“22When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the LORD your God.
²³The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ²⁴Speak to the people of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of complete rest, a holy convocation commemorated with trumpet blasts. ²⁵You shall not work at your occupations; and you shall present the LORD's offering by fire.” Leviticus 23

Acts 5

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; ²with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. ³Ananias, Peter asked, "why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!" ⁵Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. ⁶The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.
⁷After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price." And she said, "Yes, that was the price." ⁹Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." ¹⁰Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

2 Corinthians 9:7

⁷Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

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You might be asking, “how can I be part of the solution?”

ANSWER: check out http://hrd101010.blogspot.com

"God Sized in a Super SIZE ME WORLD"

This message was originally preached on Sunday, August 5, 2007 at Bethany Lutheran Church. It is in my humble opinion a wonderful message of the realities of living today. This coming Sunday, August 1, 2010 we will have the same lessons. Obviously, the sermon will be different, but I wanted to share this with you as background. Tune in on Sunday to get the updated version "GREED versus GOD!"

for updated info on the ONE CAMPAIGN check out
Lutheran One Campaign info

for MDG info check out
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

“God Sized- In a “SuperSIZE ME World”

August 5, 2007

Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

Lectionary 18c- ONE SUNDAY

Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp

Chapter 1

²Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
      vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
¹²I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, ¹³applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. ¹⁴I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
      

Chapter 2

¹⁸I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me ¹⁹— and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. ²⁰So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, ²¹because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. ²²What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? ²³For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes)
      

¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." ¹⁴But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" ¹⁵And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." ¹⁶Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. ¹⁷And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' ¹⁸Then he said, '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. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' ²⁰But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' ²¹So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."  (Luke 12)

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “ Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”

I’m a big fan of what has been called, “bumper-sticker theology.” I think I like it because in just a few words a great deal can be said. For example, I saw one bumper-sticker on a large pick-up truck with big wheels which read, “He who ends with the most toys wins.” And my hunch would be that if we went to that person’s garage or basement we’d find a lot of “toys” and other stuff. Or on the back of a big RV these words were stamped, “We’re spending our kids’ inheritance.” Once again, I sense that if we were able to have a conversation with the drivers of that particular vehicle we’d get a pretty good picture of who and what is important to them (and also who and what isn’t important to them). One bumper-sticker which doesn’t have anything really to do with the sermon today, but I simply liked it reads, “I’m trying to be the person my dog thinks I am.” And last but not least there is the bumper-sticker on the car which reads, “Live Simply so Others May Simply Live.”  There is in those words an acknowledgment that how one lives has an affect on how others live.

Today you are hearing an emphasis about the ONE CAMPAIGN. Last summer we introduced it to you and we’re back again this year to encourage you to PRAY, TEACH, PURCHASE and READ (there are handouts which give direction and guidance)

This morning we have two great lessons to shape our hearts, our minds and our souls. I’ve tried to capture the essence of them by summarizing the richness of the words into a title or bumper-sticker, “God Sized-In a SUPERSIZE ME World.”  The first lesson from the Book of Ecclesiastes was the source for a book by Rabbi Harold Kushner entitled, When All You’ve Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough.  It is a great little book which probes questions and comments like: “Was There Something I was Supposed to Do with my Life?” and  “The Loneliness of Looking Out for Number One.”  Kushner helps us see that in most situations we all have more things and stuff than we ever thought possible and yet, those things and stuff don’t exactly feed our soul, nor do they make us happy.

Years ago there was a song whose title was “Is That All There Is?” Those five words sum up most of the book of Ecclesiastes. Or as U2’s Bono plaintively sings, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”

If we fast forward to the gospel lesson for today we are told about a man who asks Jesus to issue a quick probate decision for him.

"Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me."

Jesus doesn’t respond in a Judge Judy type of fashion but instead tells the story of the “rich fool.” This person decides to build bigger and better barns to store up all his crops and things so that he can “eat, drink and be merry.” And yet, Jesus says that very night his soul was demanded of him.

As some of you know we have two Bible study groups which look at the gospel for coming Sunday, one on Monday morning at 9am and then other at 7am on Tuesday mornings (and I invite you to drop in at either one of those). This past week we talked about this text in some detail. And one member asked a great Lutheran question, “What does this mean?” So, “what are we to do?”  First of all, it’s the question, the bottom line if you will. And after years of praying and thinking about it all, wrestling with guilt (and as Garrison Keillor says, “guilt is the gift that keeps on giving” or at the other end of the spectrum apathy or indifference, I believe the Millennium Development Goals are clear succinct statements about how people like you and me can effect change and bring about goodness in our world.

The goals to be achieved by 2015 are

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger;
2. Achieve universal primary education;
3. Promote gender equality and empower women;
4. Reduce child mortality;
5. Improve  maternal health;
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases;
7. Ensure environmental sustainability; and
8. Create a global partnership for development.

Jesus concluded his “judgment” by saying,  “So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."  So, it begs the questions, what does it mean to be rich toward God? One scholar has suggested that the answer is found in two short passages, Luke 6:27 and Luke 10:27:

But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27)

He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)

I believe it really isn’t about square footage, “how big is your barn?” or even “how much is enough?” The question the parable is answering and asking at the same time is simple “who?”

Who are you? Who are you working for? Who is Jesus calling you to be? Who do you trust and believe in?  And at the same time, it is about praying that we might be “right sized” God-sized in a SuperSIZE ME World.

I know that you know and believe that happens as we “walk wet” through our lives remembering baptism, “marked with the cross of Christ, claimed, gathered and sent for the sake of the world.” We are fed and formed along the way by the Word which gives us comfort and direction. We gather around the table of the Lord where our Lord gives us life and promise. That is our story and our song.

Amen

The Lord is Come! Christmas in July

Christmas in July

July 25, 2010

The Lord is Come

Pastor Ronald T. Glusenkamp

I have a picture of a sign

  that I love from my days on the road which was taken in Michigan- it proclaims the realities of the 45^th Parallel which is half way between the Equator and the North Pole. I was driving back to an airport from an event where I had spoken. I pulled over and took the picture because it was a powerful sermon for me that we always have choices. Choices to be sad or to be joyful. Choices to stay or to go. Choices to live according to the flesh or the Spirit. Choices to speak or to listen. Choices to tear down or build up.

And so we find ourselves today with this Christmas in July event where we are either 6 months late or 6 months early. Or maybe, just maybe,  we are just very much on time and in sync with the rhythm and message of the gospel lesson, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Choices to bring gifts to the Christ Child who has been made flesh and lives in the children and adults served by Metro Care Ring and the Kids of Kandahar.

The story of Christmas is so big it could and should be celebrated every day of the year. For we are recipients of this amazing God that God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to born and die in order that we might be reborn and have life.

And so due to the grand nature of this gift,  I want your help in preaching this sermon this morning. So, every time I say “Joy to the World” I’d like for you to  respond by saying, “the Lord is come!” Let’s try that one time.

“Joy to the World”- “The Lord is Come” through the water and the Word. This Word names and claims us as Children of God. This morning we give thanks for Riley Morris Rodasti; Olivia Ann Blum; and Nathaniel Kirk Strand.

“Joy to the World”- “The Lord is Come” through the bread and wine and the Word. We come up here just as we are without one plea and are given the Real, Meal Deal!

“Joy to the World”- “The Lord is Come” through the mission trip of the Bethany Youth and their adult chaperones. Together they are One in Christ through word and deed.

“Joy to the World”- “The Lord is Come” as families gather this afternoon at the Bails Street Habitat for Humanity Project. Houses become homes because you graciously responded to the call on Christmas Eve “let every heart prepare Him room.” And so with hammer and nails, wallboard and paint brushes, electrical wires, tile, shingles and lumber you created safe, affordable, environmentally friendly housing for children and adults.
Habitat for Humanity 

Last year when we set aside this date for “Christmas in July” we weren’t entirely sure what to expect or how it would be received. We’re grateful for your response of gifts.

I think the genesis of it all is embedded in the notion that the light and  miracle of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us  sometimes feels  overshadowed by all the things we think we have to do to make Christmas happen. In other words we often get overwhelmed by the crush of the season as opposed to focusing our hearts and souls on the crèche, the baby Jesus who is the reason for the season! But, in reality we don’t need to make Christmas happen because Christmas is a happening in and of itself.

“Joy to the World”- “The Lord is Come” It is in this “coming” that makes all the difference between death and life, fear and hope, sin and grace.

I have a request for you to do something today. Actually it is an invitation or just a comment. This afternoon or evening, or maybe tomorrow at work, neighborhood, talking or text, let people know that today, this day it was our message to share the wonderful call and response, ““Joy to the World”- “The Lord is Come”

This Christmas by Peter Mayer

Peter Mayer has an amazing song that reminds us again and again that right now, right here, today is the time to give thanks for the Babe born in Bethlehem.

I always kid Peter that this song is the “Gospel According to George Bailey/Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life.

This Christmas this Christmas
There's a gift that only you can give
This Christmas this Christmas
Give yourself to....

Lend a heart, lend a hand
Make a start, understand
Lend an hour lend a day
Wrap yourself to give away

This Christmas by Peter Mayer

“Joy to the World”- “The Lord is Come”  again and again and again.

Amen

The h2o Devos Team

Last week, July 10-17th the h2o Devos Team of (rtg, Cynthia Tanner & Peter Mayer) spent a lovely week
with dear old friends and fantastic new friends at Camp Arcadia. We were studying God's Standard or Gold Standard. A Study in Proverbs (written by rtg and pm) is available from Augsburg Fortress.

Peter has also posted the three tunes written for this study on his website (and the downloads are for free!)
PeterMayer.com/bookoffaith

We invite you to check it out!
peace,
rtg