The problem with the wealthy

I recently read that people define 'wealthy' as anyone who has more money than they do. This could include those who have impressive "toys" or even those who don't have to worry about paying the rent or buying groceries.

To someone who can't pay the rent reliably each month, I am wealthy.  To me, someone who can maintain two homes without financial strain is wealthy, although even I recognize that these folks are just moderately better off than I am.  The truly wealthy don't even think about money.  Ever.

Which is exactly the situation in which what the rich man in Luke's story found himself.  He was overwhelmed with wealth in the form of an over the top bumper crop requiring the building of additional barns to hold it all.  He was set!  No worrying over next year's harvest.  No skimping on bread baking.  In fact, if the harvest was sold judiciously, he could 'eat, drink and be merry' which is exactly the conclusion he arrived at.  Many a business owner would probably have made a similar decision.

And yet!  That very night, his 'soul was required of him' or to put it bluntly, he died.  Now who was going to get all that grain?  What good did it do him in the last analysis?

Perhaps you are of the persuasion that a punitive God struck him down because of his decision.  I won't argue with you but the scripture does not say that, and that interpretation misses the main point Jesus is making throughout this section of Luke.  Jesus isn't worried about how much you have; Jesus is concerned about how you decide to do what you do with all that wealth.

Are your values God centered?  Are you a part of bringing in the kingdom by being a part of the mercy, grace, forgiveness, healing, invitational, generous kingdom which is breaking out wherever Jesus is?  Have you been turned upside down and inside out by the mercy of God in Jesus?

Is your wealth your security or is it your Lord, Jesus?  Are you honoring the transient and dishonoring the Divine?  Are you hoarding the transient and ignoring the Divine?

Our rich farmer could have purchased burlap bags, filled them with grain and given them away, thus orchestrating an abundant harvest for the whole village.  He could have sent every farm worker home with double his wages and shared his bounty.  He could have set up a storage unit for the whole community as a hedge against the famine that was sure to come at some time.

Instead he kept it all for himself and thought himself safe from hunger for years to come.  He was secure.  He could relax.

He would turn to God another year.  Or not.  Jesus warned him.

Oh yes.  What is the problem with the wealthy?  No one thinks they are truly wealthy; no one sees himself in the story of the man with the barns.  Everyone thinks that next year they can turn to God.

Jesus warns us as well.