HOW TO BE RICH TOWARD GOD

Parable of the Rich Fool, Lk. 12:13-21

Here is a smart man who is an astute planner and investor. He has a plan and carries it through to ensure he and his family can have a secure and comfortable future. But why does Jesus call him a fool? Because he is so intensely focused on this life that is only temporal, building bigger barns and storing his surplus grain for the rainy day, etc. that he has neglected the other important part of his life: that which is eternal. As a Jew, this man is religious and believes in life after death. But he has done nothing to prepare for it. He is caught up in the here and now, under the illusion that he has control over his life and all the time in the world to enjoy what he has accumulated. He did not know that this night would be his last.

As Christians we know that the temporal and eternal are not an either-or thing. We live in the realities of both. The news headlines and misfortunes of people we know are constant reminders that life is fragile and unpredictable. We should responsibly attend to our work and provide for our family. But we shall be fools if we banked our security on our jobs and investment accounts. We mustn’t allow these temporal things to drive our lives and determine our priorities.

So, what should be the guiding principles for our lives on earth? The Lord Jesus has given us a dual charge—the Great Commandment to love God and our neighbors, and the Great Commission to make God’s love known to the world. Do the Great Commandment and the Great Commission shape how we live, and what we set our hearts and sights on? 

When Henry and Kate felt God’s call to serve overseas, they were anxious about the potential cost to their family and their careers. If security and stability were the most important things in life, going overseas would indeed be a bad idea! But they did not ignore God’s promptings. Instead, they asked God for clarity. They counted the cost, did the math, and decided that God’s will and pleasure were more important to them. The eternal outweighed the temporal. When we take a leap of faith, God never fails to catch us on the other side. For Henry and Kate, His assurance came in the form of their parents’ support and a job that came knocking on Henry’s door.

There were losses and sacrifices in their story too. But there were greater blessings in the deeper knowledge and relationship with God that everyone in the family had. Furthermore, all their earthly needs were met beyond their expectations.

 When Jesus talks about “being rich toward God” in Lk. 12:21, what did He mean? In context, it was the choice to store up riches in heaven rather than storing up things in bigger barns that can become nothing overnight. For where our treasure is, there also our heart will be. Would you give God a chance to prove to you His promise, “Seek His Kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Lk. 12:31)?

Reflection questions:

·       What things do you treasure and are working hard to build?

·       How is your professed faith shaping how you engage in the temporal world?

·       In what ways are you reminded of the fragility and unpredictability of life?

·       How are you striving to be rich towards God?