Greed vs God
Lectionary 18
Proper 13
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
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
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.”
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
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).
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.
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
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
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.
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.
You might be asking, “how can I be part of the solution?”
ANSWER: check out http://hrd101010.blogspot.com
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