Learning from Jesus: money, money, money
Is it wrong to earn a lot of money? Is it wrong to be rich? The man Jesus described in his parable was not criticised because he was rich. No doubt he - or his hired servants - worked hard on the land. And a combination of diligence, experience, fertile soil and good weather brought him a bumper harvest.
And, like many today whose business or professional life has brought substantial wealth, he looked round in some surprise and wondered what to do next.
We often hear of people looking forward to having earned and saved enough to be able to give up work and spend their retirement in a style to which they have not always been accustomed. Cruising round the world, buying a place in the sun or simply joining a golf club - or perhaps all of the above. Things that they never had time for during their 'working' life.
The man in Jesus' parable made his plans - he would build bigger barns to ensure his future, and then take his ease, eat, drink and be merry. A recipe for happiness, one might think. He hadn't anticipated that he wouldn't have time to enjoy his new self-indulgent life. God said, 'You fool, this day your life will be required of you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
Just 30 years ago last week, Bing Crosby, on a visit to Spain, played a round of golf, went back to the clubhouse and died. A death so sudden makes me think.
Paul tells Timothy to command the rich believers in Ephesus 'to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment', and 'to be rich in good deeds...generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age' (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
How each of us carries out this command is up to us, under the Lord's guidance. God forbid that on the day that my life is demanded of me Jesus will describe me as 'one who stored up things for herself but was not rich towards God'.
Comments
There are currently no comments for this article.
