Luke’s gospel gives special emphasis to the gentiles and the poor.
The subject of coveting arises in Luke because of an interrupting request by someone in the crowd. Apparently this person had detected in Jesus a fairness of spirit that would qualify him to settle a dispute over an inheritance. Jesus is asked to be a referee, but he refuses. Rather than acting as judge, Jesus states a proverbial truth in v.15 and elaborates with a parable in vv16-20.
We might have seen several warning boards in our roads. It helps us to move away from danger, and not to fall in danger. In the Bible also we can see several warning messages. One of the messages is in Luke 12:15 "Take heed and beware of covetousness". There we can see that one’s life doesn’t consist in the abundance of possessions.
The common tendency of human beings is to acquire maximum wealth. The rich usually get reputation in society without taking into consideration the ways in which they have earned it. Those who accumulate wealth further attempt to catch hold of more possessions. Here Jesus is trying to remind us of a fundamental truth and for that purpose he introduces a parable. This story might come to Jesus’ mind from an untimely death of a rich man. The parable illustrates the fate of the man who loves neither God nor neighbor. There are some reasons to call him a fool. At this juncture, it is extremely important to recognize these reasons in order to be rich toward God.In any event, the topic of wealth is prominent in Luke's writing. Above all Luke shows Jesus as the friend of outcasts and sinners. But the outstanding characteristic of this book is that it is the universal gospel and it has been called "The gospel of the underdog". Jesus Christ is for all human without distinction removing all kinds of barriers. He was not concerned about the uncertainty of life
Here we see this young man uttering some words to himself such as relax, eat, drink, and be merry. He thinks that he can be the unchanging owner of all his possessions utilizing unlimitedly as he wished. He is never aware of the fact that there may be interruptions to his desires. The psalmist’s voice in psalm 39:4-5 is very much relevant here: "…let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a few handbreadths and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight." The world has so far witnessed the emergence of many leaders and revolutionaries who made their presence felt, but ultimately defeated by death. Alexander the Great thus said moments before his death: "My hands should lie outside the coffin, because people should know that I came to this world empty-handed and returning likewise". So no one can escape the reality of death, whether it be rich or poor, educated or illiterate, youth or the aged etc. But the thing is that we need not be upset with the uncertainty of life but we must be aware of it.
He never saw beyond the self
V.19 he says to himself "you have ample goods laid up for many years". He believes that nobody has any partake in his possessions. Perhaps we may also have the same attitude towards our possessions. But we must affirm that the blessings and possessions which are given to us is God’s trust on us. If we give priority to that conviction, then only we get motivated to share our possessions.
The evil is not in the treasure or in laying up treasure, but in laying up treasure for oneself. It is a devotion to self not to God, and gathering up solely for the self is, therefore, a sin according to the judgment of Christ.
Pope John Paul VI made a statement in his UNO conference "there are enough resources here to all people in this world. But the accumulation made by some hands is the cause of poverty and marginalization." This is very true. God granted us the resources not to be grabbed by some people, but for equal distribution. Sometimes we see the same attitude in the church itself. It is a sad aspect that their primary motive is the accumulation of wealth which is the offshoot of self-centeredness. The rich man looks himself through his wealth and says "you have ample goods laid up for many years. It shows how narrow minded he is. So there is no wonder in God calling him a fool. Are we truly aware of this matter?
He was ignorant of the life beyond
There is a contrast between "laying up treasure for oneself" and "being rich toward God". God cannot be enriched or impoverished. That man is rich toward God who lays up treasure in heaven, and so he is rich indeed. By being rich toward God he becomes rich forever. So the great duty of all, irrespective of the rich and the poor, is to become rich toward God.
Most of us acknowledge that this life is temporary. But some of us don’t know what is beyond this earthly living. For this assurance, our lord Jesus Christ died and resurrected for us. This man was rich in his worldly possession. In Rev. 3: 17 we read the satisfaction of the church in Laodicea: "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing". But what the spirit of God said to them? "You are wretched, pitiable, poor blind and naked. We are very much concerned about this perishable body. But the Luke passage says: "Ones life doesn’t consist in the abundance of possession". Then what is the base of life? John 17:3 says "And this is eternal life that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent". So knowing Christ is the base of our life. Do we have this knowledge? If we are not realizing that our health, knowledge, wisdom which are the gifts of God, we are fools in front of God. So those who store up treasures for themselves are not rich toward God since they give little heed to the life beyond.
[Prince John, the preacher of this sermon is a final year BD student in Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute.]
