Possessed by Possessions

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
August 1st 2010
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
Luke 12:13-21
“Possessed by Possessions”

… greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of humankind.
These words come from the movie Wall Street which meant to show the excesses of the market speculation of the early 1990’s. The character who spoke these words, Gordon Gecko, was a ruthless man who did whatever was necessary to accumulate more wealth. These words are the very antithesis of our scripture from this morning.
The easy thing to do with interpreting this scripture would be to lift up people who fit in the model of Gordon Gecko. We could look for modern day Robber Barons. There are many. However, in doing so it becomes easy to throw stones at those who have a lot of money. In the process the scripture is then used as a tool that other people need to listen to and it carries little message for us.
The great danger for those of us who claim to follow Jesus is not that we are misers with our money. And neither is the man who asked Jesus to intervene on his behalf. We have no indication that this gentleman is asking something so terrible. And yet, Jesus tells this story which makes it seem like all wealth is bad. Is this what Jesus is doing? If so, it is a story that means little to any of us other than as a rock to hurl at others. I believe Jesus has a deeper story to tell which has very implications for our lives.
If there is a driving theme in this scripture it is that we are called to use and understand our resources as tools for serving and glorifying God. When the man asked Jesus for help, he is asking that the money be given to him. While he might be well within his legal right, he is doing so from the wrong perspective. The money is mine, I am entitled to it, and no one else better touch it. His way of thinking is based on a flawed theology which says that God is clearly on the side of making sure people keep their own money. The motivation behind this request is self-serving. And that is what Jesus is challenging.
In the parable, a man works very hard and receives a huge abundance. He has so much stuff that he has to build bigger barns. All of his energy and creativity goes into protecting what belongs to him. Once this task is accomplished he decides to live out his days enjoying himself in leisure. A lifetime luxury vacation is his goal. The mindset of this man is completely driven by self-interest. It is his grain, his land, his work, his to do with what he wants. And no one is going to tell him otherwise. Again, the motivation is self-serving. It is the elevation of self that Jesus is preaching against.
Jesus, in this text, does not say that money is evil or that we should not plan well with our resources. What he is saying is that we must do so out of a sense of the common good. Being rich in God is the term he uses. In order to get this point we need to spend some time there. The comment is not simply about protecting ones’ soul; it is about living out kingdom values on earth. Jesus’ ministry of healing and restoration focuses on bringing the individual back into community. Solitary individuals do not fare well and Jesus seeks them out and brings them back. Acting out of self-interest alienates one from others and in the long run is not really in ones’ best self-interest.
A modern contrast might be the difference between billionaire Warren Buffet who seeks to give away his entire fortune to good causes before he dies and the first billionaire who was able to, during the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression, pass his fortune to his family tax free. While Buffet is not doing his work because of faith, he is an example of the importance of the common good. Jesus does not stand against planning for the future. He is not saying money is of no consequence. Instead, he is saying it is of little consequence particularly when its accumulation is driven by self-interest.
As Christians, the purpose of our resources and possessions are to glorify God. That is a statement I am sure we can all agree with. However, what will that look like in action? Sit down this week with your check book, or online if you no longer use paper. Look over the last month, three months, six months, and a year. As you look back over how you use your resources just ask this simple question: “Does this expense glorify God?” Sometimes the answer will be clear. Other times you may have to ponder a bit. I would focus most on the areas where you have to stop and think. It is in those places where we have the most to learn.
This is true in all areas of our financial lives. Not just in our expenditures but in our saving as well. Jesus is not saying that money should not be saved. But saved for what purpose? Is it to provide for you needs as well as the needs of others? That should be the goal. Just remember, the man in the parable saved only so that he could rest comfortably without a thought to giving to others. The calling is not to deny ourselves but to move beyond ourselves and care for others.
Yesterday I took my oldest daughter to see Toy Story 3. If you have not, and do not intend to see it, that is alright you will get the point. The basis of the story is that a young boy, Andy, has grown up and no longer plays with his toys. These toys are worried about what will happen and hope that they will be placed in the attic where at least they will be safe. However these toys, that come to life whenever humans are not in the room, really want to be played with more than anything else.
In the final scene of the movie Andy is preparing to go off to college. Instead of placing the toys in his attic he does something rather simple yet amazing. Andy takes this box of his favorite toys, to a young girl who will love and care for them. The girl is ecstatic when Andy begins to share his prized childhood possessions. However, Andy had intended to keep his favorite toy Woody. Unknown to Andy, Woody had placed himself in the bottom of the box when he was not looking. When the little girl finds Woody at the bottom she is filled with joy. At this point Andy is conflicted. He wanted to keep this one favorite toy as a memento even though he would not play with it anymore. But seeing the joy on this girls face, and remembering the joy he received from this toy Andy decides to let her have Woody. It is a moment of maturity, of moving beyond his wants and desires he releases his favorite possession so that this young child might also know joy. To this modern parable, Jesus would say: Amen!