Lectionary: Proper 13(C)
Text: Psalm 49:1-12; Luke 12:13-21
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| Parable of the Rich Man, Rembrandt, 1627 |
It is easy to point fingers at others. It is easy to read
this text, think about billionaires and point fingers at their lack of morals
and ethics. It is easy to read this text and point fingers at the
self-centeredness of the ultra-wealthy and how they seem to have no regard for those
just getting by.
None of us sitting here today is among the top one percent
in wealth. Most of us must make trade-offs in our budgets and spending. Some of
us might consider ourselves comfortable, but not so comfortable that we don’t
have worries about finances. Does today’s reading contain anything relevant for
us?
Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool in response to a
man in the crowd approaching Jesus so that he could settle an inheritance
dispute between him and his brother. However, it was more than that. The man,
probably the younger brother, had already made up his mind that he was going to
get the share of inheritance that the law entitled him to. He was going to
exercise his right to have the property divided and given to him. He just
wanted a declaration from Jesus that this plan was approved.
It needs to be understood that there was no requirement that
an inheritance be divided after the patriarch’s death. Psalm 133:1 praise
families who continue to live together: “1 Look at how good and
pleasing it is when families live together as one!” (CEB) In Genesis 13, the
separation of Abram and Lot, because each family had grown too large to remain
together, is seen as a tragedy.
The younger brother who had come to Jesus had already
decided that he wanted to separate from his family and take his portion of the
family land with him. “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?” (Bailey)
responds Jesus.[1]
First, as was with Martha and Mary, Jesus does not take kindly to demands that
are made to him. If Jesus is Lord and Master, making requests and accepting
what is provided is appropriate. But not demands. Second, Jesus came to bring
people together into his community, not to divide. Those who follow Jesus as
Lord and Master ought to come together, not separate.
Jesus is not impressed by this man’s attitude. Jesus’
addressing of him as “Man” is just short of rude.[2]
Jesus continues with a statement of a general principle.
“Take heed, and beware of every kind of insatiable desire. For life for a
person does not consist in the surpluses of his possessions.” (Bailey)
A couple of things to note here. First, “insatiable desire”
implies much more than acquisition and hoarding of possessions. It hints to more
intangible things such as power, honor, respect, ambition, and even
independence. Second, Jesus is addressing what one does with a surplus. In
other words, possessions, tangible and intangible, inherently are not bad or
evil. Humans need various things to meet our basic physical, emotional, and
social needs. But there comes a point where some can end up with more than is
needed. How we respond to a surplus is an indicator of what we truly desire.
The parable Jesus tells lays out one option. When we pause
to see its reflection, we can infer the second option, the option that leads to
authentic life.
In the parable, the man is already wealthy. He is not
condemned for being wealthy. What happens next is that his lands simply produce
a bumper crop. Those who farm and garden are quite aware that many things out
of their control can affect the harvest. You can work hard and do all the right
things to influence the harvest, but the outcome is also determined by things
like weather and pests.
This rich man happens to experience a bumper crop for
nothing related to his actual work or effort. It is a gift from God. What will
he do with it?
He enters a monologue, speaking to himself. The crops, the
surplus, everything is his. In his mind he owns it, deserves it, and can
do what he wants with it. He has no one to discuss this fortune with. He has no
one who celebrates with him. It does not cross his mind that those who worked
in the fields might share in it. It is his – all of it.
He decides to tear down his current barns, build larger
ones, store up the harvest, and then live an easy life for many years to come. “Relax,
eat, drink, and enjoy yourself,” (Bailey) he muses to himself. This might be a
reference to Ecclesiastes 8:15, “15 So I commend enjoyment because
there’s nothing better for people to do under the sun but to eat, drink, and be
glad. This is what will accompany them in their hard work, during the lifetime
that God gives under the sun.” (CEB) What the rich man forgot or fails to
realize is that life itself is a gift and a loan from God.
The parable next has God collecting the loan due on the rich
man’s life. The man had no time to relax and enjoy what he thought were his
possessions. Similarly to the lament of the writer of Ecclesiastes, God asks, “Fool!
Who is going to inherit all the things you stored away?”
Jesus ends the parable with a warning. “This is the way it
will be for those who hoard things for themselves and aren’t rich toward God.” (Luke
12:21 CEB) Bailey translates this as follows: “So is he who lays up treasure
for himself, and is not gathering riches for God.” Two choices are laid out.
Each person can live for themselves, pursuing their own glory; or, they can use
what they are loaned to build up God’s community.
In our modern society, where ownership is such an entrenched
and highly prized principle, it might be difficult for us to let go of it. But
for those who follow Christ, everything we have is on loan from God; even our
time here on earth. If we take to heart the truth that all God has given to us doesn’t
belong to us; if we take to heart that God desires community above all else;
and if we take to heart that what God gives is intended to build up his
community, would we live differently?
I think that the problem of the man demanding his portion of
the inheritance wasn’t primarily about the inheritance, but about him wanting
to distance himself from community and live independently from family. The
parable could be seen as a warning of what unchecked independence without
communal accountability will eventually lead to: a life that becomes completely
self-consuming and self-indulgent, uncaring of others and their needs.
Living in community, with people that are different from us,
don’t always think alike, are sometimes disagreeable and even unlikeable, can
be difficult. But that is how and where we practice unconditional love,
forgiveness, and mercy. As we contribute our tangible and intangible
possessions in building up God’s community, we are “gathering riches for God”
and bringing the kingdom of God as we pray each week, in community, “Thy
kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
In the name of God who Creates,
In the name of God who Gathers,
And in the name of God who discomforts us through imperfect
community, amen.
References
Bailey, K. E. (1976, 1980). Poet & Peasant
and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Edition). Grand Rapids, MI: William B.
Eerdmans.
Bailey, K. E. (2008). Jesus Through Middle
Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press.
Bartlett, D. L., & Brown Taylor, B. (2010). Feasting
on the Word: Year C, Volume 3. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox
Press.
William B. Eerdmans. (2003). Eerdman's Commentary
on the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans.
[1]
Most translations use “arbitrator” or similar instead of “divider”, softening
the intent of Jesus’ words.
[2][2]
Some translations use “Friend” or similar instead of “Man”, softening the
intent of Jesus’ words.
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