Our four week series Stewardship: Who do YOU see? continues with “Jesus and
Money.” Jesus spoke about money/wealth/possessions more than anything else
except his central message of the Kingdom of God. Today we focus on the central issue of a
healthy relationship with material wealth.
The
First Reading: Ecclesiastes
2:1-11 (NLT)
Reflecting on personal experience, the
writer of Ecclesiastes assesses the pursuit of material wealth and sensual
pleasure.
I said to myself,
“Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.” But I
found that this, too, was meaningless. 2 So I said, “Laughter is
silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?” 3 After much thought,
I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched
at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most
people find during their brief life in this world.
4
I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by
planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling
them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect
the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought
slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also
owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in
Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold,
the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men
and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could
desire!
9
So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my
wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied
myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all
my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so
hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was
nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
Word of God, word of
life. Thanks be to God!
The Second Reading: Philippians 4:10-13 (NLT)
As the result of many hard and painful
experiences, Paul learns to put material things and the pleasures of life in
their proper perspective.
How
I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always
been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not
that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I
have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I
have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full
stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything
through Christ, who gives me strength.
Word
of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!
The Gospel: Luke
12:13-34 (NRSV)
Jesus addresses our common worry over the physical and material aspects
of life. We need to remember where they
all come from and let go of worrying about them to trust God to provide what we
need.
Someone in
the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family
inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Friend, who
set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 And he said to
them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's
life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." 16 Then
he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17
And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to
store my crops?' 18 Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down
my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my
goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid
up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to
him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the
things you have prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So it is with
those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."
22 He
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. 23 For
life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider
the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn,
and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And
can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 26 If
then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about
the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil
nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like
one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which
is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he
clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not keep striving for what
you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For
it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your
Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, strive for his kingdom,
and these things will be given to you as well.
32 "Do
not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you
the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make
purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven,
where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.
