Purses That Will Not Wear Out

The difference between faithful planning, good stewardship, and outright greed

Blessed 19th Sunday after Pentecost to you. Advent begins in six weeks.

Should I have a retirement savings account? Life insurance? Is there something within the Kingdom that says plan not only for tomorrow, but also for the decades ahead? Such things seem like good stewardship, faithful care of family, children, and the generations to come.

I’m not sure these questions are the same as building bigger barns for more grain, though they are very close in deed. There are plenty of places in scripture that advocate preparation for a coming time, for one reason or another. There is Joseph and the seven years of seven years of famine. There is this proverb. And then Jesus himself tells the story of the wise bridesmaids.

So it doesn’t seem that storage for the future is completely unadvisable for the people of God. And yet, Jesus is making a significant point.

Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.
Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. …
Do not worry about your life, what you will eat;
Or about your body, what you will wear.
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

The difference isn’t about whether we plan for the future. It’s about who we believe holds the future. Joseph stored grain for the sake of others; the rich fool stored for himself. (But be careful of the excuses we may make for ourselves based upon the safety of only our own.) The bridesmaids prepared out of hope; the barn builder hoarded out of fear - retaining it all for his own merry-making. Maybe Jesus’ teaching isn’t an economic rulebook, but a heart-check: is our saving an act of trust or an act of anxiety?

Luke 12:13-34

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Psalm 62:1-2

Only in God do I find rest; my salvation comes from him.
Only God is my rock and my salvation—my stronghold!—I won’t be shaken anymore.

Prayer (from the Book of Common Prayer for today)

God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.