Life is

Luke 12:13-21  “ Rich Toward God?”

“G. F. Watts' famous picture illustrating "For he had great possessions" is familiar to everyone perhaps…The artist gave this account of the rich young ruler: "I am doing a man's back—little else but his back—to explain, 'He went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.' Fancy a man turning his back on Christ rather than give away his goods. They say his back looks sorry. I don't know. It is what I meant to express."—Quiver ---as in more illustrations/riches”www

“ Take heed and beware of covetousness”  .  I noted that the word “take heed” in English is one little word in the original Greek. SEE it is saying.  SEE this.  Really see it .  It is the same word for seeing.  John 6:36 has the same word too. “ You have seen me and do not believe” Jesus said to the crowds.

So seeing is not necessarily believing.  We see things .  We see people.  But Jesus is saying something different.  “Not in abundance is LIFE”  The word zoe is life .  But he is talking about life in what way?  Verse 21.  Jesus tells the rich person who he calls a fool “ this night your SOUL will be required of you….”  That is another word used instead of zoe.  I would say this is an important little word as zoe is . The word is psuche…..breath of life . It almost sounds like breath. Matthew 2:20 is the same little word, “ Having risen take with thee the little child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they have died who were seeking the life (psuche) of the little child.”

Being rich is not being rich in things we can have.  I have my great-grandfather’s doctoral preaching robe.  It hangs in my closet.  I have things I think are very important to me like that.  I am sure we all do.  You can probably name them right now.  But they are not life.  They are not our lives so to speak.  But we forget this too much.  That is why we are here today in the House of God.  It is to hear about what really matters---our souls are our lives.

The Old Testament lesson for today was Ecclesiastes.  The teacher says this life is full of vanity.” I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.”   This can certainly be so, and we can identify with what is being said .  We can be rich toward God in our use of our possessions and in our relationships if we choose to despite what others are doing.  I think the Epistle speaks well to that:”  Colossians 3:1-11

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things-- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!”

Being rich is not being rich in things.  It is being rich in what God allows us in this life .  We are not living in a time that is easy to practice our Christian faith.  It is almost 180 degrees from what we are experiencing in the society .  I must get rid of these things in this time despite how we feel. 

Ambrose sums these truths up in a sermon: “ He uselessly accumulates wealth when he does not know how he will use it…the things that are of the world remain in the world, and whatever riches we gather are bequeathed to our heirs…Only virtue is the companion of the dead. Compassion alone follows us.  It is the guide to the heavens and the first of the mansions…”

“ For True Riches and Liberality” A Free Church Book of Common Prayer-1929:”

“ O God, teach us to seek first thy kingdom and thy righteousness, to labour for true riches, to be content with what thou providest, and to be in this world like a stranger with affections set upon heaven: give us a heart compassionate to the poor, liberal to the needy, open and free in all our communications, without base ends or greedy designs or unworthy arts of gain.  Let our strife be to obtain the blessedness of doing good to others , and of receiving from thee pardon and grace and life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”