The text of a sermon preached at St Marnarch’s Church, Lanreath, Cornwall
The readings were Hosea 111-11 Colossians 31-11 Luke 1213-21
Watch, and be on you guard against avarice of any kind, for life does not consist in abundance of possessions.
It is hard to imagine guidance from Jesus that could be more clearly directed to our own time than this. Our modern society is built upon consumption. We are continually urged to acquire more and better possessions.
Our modern economy is considered successful only if it is growing. When we switch on the TV, or social media – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or walk through our town centres, visit the cinema, read a newspaper or a magazine we are bombarded with advertisements. According to these advertisements we all need a new phone, a new TV, a gigantic fridge freezer, a new car.
We are consumers and, according to society, we need to own more and better possessions. Jesus’ response to the man in this morning’s gospel reading,
life does not consist in abundance of possessions
challenges this view in the strongest terms.
The parable that follows reinforces the message, as does Jesus’ remark that rounds it off,
So it is when someone stores up treasure for himself instead of becoming rich with regard to God.
The danger of riches is very much a theme in Luke’s gospel. We are all familiar with the Beatitudes in Matthew’s gospel. Luke also records beatitudes of Jesus. But where Matthew has,
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs,
and,
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled,
Luke, in his version of the beatitudes has,
Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be filled.
and
But alas for you who are rich, for you are having your consolation now,
Alas for you who have plenty to eat now, for you shall go hungry.
For Luke it’s just poor not poor in spirit, and hungry not those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
And many of the parables and sayings of Jesus that Luke records speak of wealth as a barrier to entering the kingdom.
For where your treasure is, that is where your heart will be too. (1234)
You cannot serve both God and money. (1613)
How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God. (1824)
But Jesus gives positive advice too about what to do with wealth.
When the rich ruler comes to him and asks, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, but adds, when he says that he has kept the commandments,
You still lack one thing. Sell everything you own and distribute the money to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.
There are a number of other references in Luke’s gospel to the importance of the giving of alms – supporting the poor through charity.
Luke, in his gospel sees this duty as a part of acting with justice towards the needy and vulnerable.
And this is surely the point that Jesus wants us to understand – that wealth is a blessing if it is used well. Selfish accumulation is wrong. It undermines God’s justice. We need to be aware of where our treasure lies.
We should see our possessions as gifts to be used. We should see our wealth as something to be shared rather than hoarded.
I don’t believe that Jesus is suggesting that we should be unconcerned for our security and comfort, nor does he require us to impoverish ourselves and live in poverty. But he does require us to understand that we have a responsibility, in God’s justice, to those who are in need.
If we are indifferent to the needs of our neighbours; if we are unmoved by the plight of the hungry; if we look the other way when we see suffering then we are failing in our discipleship.
If we are only interested in accumulation of wealth; in amassing possessions; in having the latest and greatest of everything then we are failing in our discipleship.
The gifts we have are gifts to be shared for the benefit of others. If we’re artistic or musical we can share those gifts; if we have a gift of teaching we should teach; if we are good at leadership we should be a leader; if we can identify injustice in the world we should challenge it; if we are blessed with more than enough money we should help the poor and needy.
Jesus’s teaching is very clear – particularly in Luke’s gospel.
Indifference to the needs of those around us is sinful and a barrier to us entering the kingdom of God.
Where we have been blessed by God we should share what we have. As Jesus said to the man in the crowd today,
Watch, and be on you guard against avarice of any kind, for life does not consist in abundance of possessions.
Abundance of possessions brings only the illusion of security. Failure to share brings rejection from God’s kingdom.
exultemus 