Loving God, you provide abundantly for your children, inviting us to learn how to share your love with others.  Grant us an awareness of your provision and the freedom to exhibit your generosity; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

           Those of you who have been paying attention over the past few weeks might notice that some of today’s gospel sounds rather familiar. Last week was “sell your possessions and give alms” – another way of saying give to the poor (Lk. 12:33).  The week before we heard about your heart being where your treasure is and lots about “do not worry” (Lk. 12:22).  This week, some of these things are repeated in Luke, but in a different context.  This time, it all starts with a disagreement over a family inheritance.

         We hear today about greed and worry and fear, all of which rob us of a joyful and life-giving relationship with God.  It seems that greed, worry and fear are the things that come to the forefront as soon as we see scarcity instead of abundance.  I’ve been reading a book lately that tells about what happened during a time of actual scarcity.  It is written by my aunt, who tells about her family’s experience living in Germany before, during and after World War II (Iron Annie and a Long Journey by Lisa M. Hutchison).

         Her parents spent several years as displaced people, moving from place to place as the Russians advanced. At one point after the war, they are placed with her paternal grandmother, who is simply referred to as Gusti.  Gusti has no desire to have any relatives living with her.  She is also described as a very cruel woman.  When she is informed that she has no choice in the matter, she declares that she will not be sharing any of her food with them.  This is in spite of the fact that her son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren are all sickly and malnourished.  

The interesting part of this is that she actually has more food than most of the other people in the area.  Her other son, who was high up in the communist party and was working for the Russians, kept sending her canned meat and other items that most Germans could not get.  Gusti, it seems to me, is the embodiment of what greed and fear and worry can do to you. She also seems to be among “those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God” (Lk. 12:21).

Had Gusti been open to seeing things in a different way, she might have realized the abundance that she had in her pantry compared to everybody else.  And, had she trusted in God, she could have joyfully shared what she had with her family, believing that God would continue to provide for her.  However, as we are reminded in today’s gospel, not everybody trusts God. The man who built the bigger barns is a case in point.

In the parable that Jesus tells, the man is faced with a dilemma.  His crops have had a really good year and the land has produced abundantly for him. What is he going to do with all of his crops?  In the parable, he only considers one option – storing them so that he can eat, drink and be merry for many years.  However, that is certainly not the only option available to him.  What else could he have done with all of his extra food?... [shared it with those who were hungry; sold it and given the money to charity; given a feast for the whole community;…]

Once again, had he trusted in God, he would have given thanks to God for all of his abundance, and he would have shared it with those in need.  He would have done this because of God’s commands to care for the poor and because trusting in God means believing that God will continue to provide.  However, instead he stores up treasures for himself.  He doesn’t seem to realize that all of those abundant crops belong to God, or that his own life could end at any time.

There is a note of warning in this parable. How many possessions you have is not going to matter when you die, and it also won’t matter if Jesus were to return tomorrow.  Acquiring lands and fields and possessions is irrelevant when it comes to the kingdom of God, and they are gifts to be used to the glory of God and for the well-being of all.

One of the keys here seems to be whether we see scarcity or abundance when we look around us.  It is when we are focused on scarcity – the things that we don’t have – that greed and fear and worry creep in.  However, the gospels try to get us to focus on God’s abundance.  Jesus points to how God provides everything that is needed for the birds and the lilies of the field and asks us, Aren’t you of more value than birds?  There is also the promise that all those who put God first and seek God’s way of doing things above all else will receive all that is needed from day to day.

A couple of weeks ago, when the gospel focused on “do not worry”, a woman spoke to me afterwards and explained all of the things that she had to worry about.  She talked about how much things cost and the price of this and that going up and how she was on a fixed income.  However, she had totally missed the other part of the equation – putting God first and seeking God’s direction in all things. Those who pray for God’s direction and provision have a totally different outlook than those who simply worry.

“Do not be afraid, little flock,” says Jesus, “for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk. 12:32). God also continues to provide and knows what we need.  It is knowledge of God’s care for us and our trust in God that sets us free to be able to give generously.  Let us then continue to look for signs of God’s abundance – just as Jesus is a sign for us of God’s abundant love.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Pentecost 15 (NL summer)                                    Luke 12:13-34

September 2, 2018

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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