Poster for the "War of Wealth" by Charles Turner Dazey, a play that opened February 10, 1895.Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

A Certain Rich Man

Luke 12:13-21

Be rich toward God, your treasure

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

But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?"

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."

Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' 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. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'

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?'

So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

In this message, we discuss the concept of true wealth, emphasizing that it is not about material possessions but rather about spiritual richness and alignment with God's will. We critique society's obsession with money and status, using biblical references from Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the teachings of Jesus to illustrate the futility of earthly wealth. We highlight the importance of financial literacy and wealth management but stress that these should not overshadow spiritual pursuits. We recount Jesus' parable of the rich fool to underscore the dangers of greed and the need to be 'rich toward God.' The discussion encourages seeking eternal values and living a life centered on spiritual growth, generosity, and the pursuit of God's kingdom, rather than being consumed by material wealth and societal status.

All Scriptures from: New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE): New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. 

Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-14

I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to humans to be busy with. I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to my successor, and who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

Psalm 49:1-12

To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm

Hear this, all you peoples;
give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
both low and high,
rich and poor together.
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.

Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life;
there is no price one can give to God for it.
For the ransom of life is costly
and can never suffice,
that one should live on forever
and never see the Pit.

When we look at the wise, they die;
fool and dolt perish together
and leave their wealth to others.
Their graves are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they named lands their own.
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.

Colossians 3:1-11

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, enslaved and free, but Christ is all and in all!

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We get so impressed with ourselves, our titles, positions, and curricula vitae. We adorn ourselves with fading splendor and gaudy honor. We fancy our bodies indestructible and our minds bright and permanent. Yet …

No matter how differentiated in minutia our DNA may be from that of the beasts, we fade, we falter, we fall, we die.

We go down to the pit of death with all of our confidence, boasting, and self-deception for we are dust and our pomp is but the costume jewelry of our silly make-believe games of childhood.

If it is all we have, we have nothing. Death is our shepherd.

But God has something else in mind for us, a rescue from Sheol, a ransom of our souls, a renewal of our lives, and an ignition of our significance and reason for being.

His intention is to receive us.

He is a receiving God.

Death and mortality equalize humanity like nothing else.

There is no wealth, no skin pigmentation, and no status in our dried bones and decaying flesh.

In the grave, no matter how ostentatious the stone is, above our heads, we are equal.

In the grave, no matter how ostentatious the stone is, above our heads, we are equal.

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DISCUSSION from my Notetaker

True Wealth and Financial Stability Tom emphasizes the importance of understanding true wealth, which is not just financial stability but also spiritual richness. He discusses the cultural obsession with money as a trading symbol and warns against letting it become a master. True wealth involves financial literacy, appropriate wealth management, and aligning with spiritual values, as material wealth is temporary and cannot be taken beyond death.

Biblical Perspectives on Wealth Tom references Psalm 49 and Ecclesiastes to highlight the transient nature of wealth and human life. He explains that despite human achievements and wealth, all are equal in death. The psalmist and preacher emphasize that earthly accomplishments are vanity, and true significance comes from spiritual wealth and alignment with God's will, which offers eternal life and purpose beyond material possessions.

Jesus' Teachings on Greed and Possessions Tom recounts Jesus' parable from Luke 12, where Jesus warns against greed and emphasizes that life does not consist of possessions. He tells the story of a rich man who hoards wealth but is called a fool by God for not being rich toward God. The lesson is to focus on spiritual richness rather than material accumulation, as true wealth is found in generosity and spiritual alignment.

Paul's Teachings on Spiritual Focus Tom discusses Paul's teachings from Colossians 3, urging believers to focus on spiritual matters rather than earthly concerns. Paul advises setting one's mind on eternal things and warns against greed, which he equates with idolatry. Tom emphasizes that true wealth is found in spiritual renewal and unity in Christ, transcending earthly divisions and material concerns.

Practical Application of Spiritual Wealth Tom encourages integrating spiritual focus into daily life, suggesting that work and material pursuits should support spiritual goals. He advises seeking God with an open heart and evaluating wealth in terms of spiritual richness. The ultimate goal is to achieve a life centered on God, where material wealth is a tool for spiritual purposes, leading to eternal life and peace.

There is more here:

Are you wealthy?

Whatever your answer, the follow question is:

Are you sure?

Consider what the scriptures have to say.

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