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I was driving down Interstate 10 the other day and was passed by a very fancy pickup truck. The truck was brand new, very shiny, and it had all of the extra options. It was a four-wheel drive vehicle, so it sat pretty high off the road. It had running boards, and extra chrome. Loaded in the bed of the truck were two off-road motorcycles, which also looked brand new. On the back bumper, there was a sticker. The bumper sticker said this: "He who dies with the most toys wins." That's the way life in our culture feels a lot of the time, doesn't it? The meaning of life seems to be associated with how many toys, luxuries, and goodies we can acquire. Advertisements on television and radio encourage us to strive for the latest in cars, houses, computers, clothes, and toys. When we get caught up in the headlong pursuit for more toys, it's easy to believe that they're going to make us happy. We look at the brochure for the new car, dreaming about the day that we'll cruise down Speedway in style. Or, we long for the latest fashion so that people at school or work will notice how attractive we are. We imagine that the newest computer with the fastest microprocessor is going to make us work harder and do better things. And our toys. Whether they're Playstations, or boats, or Barbie houses, or SUVs - we imagine that our toys will make our lives much happier. Then one day we get a big surprise. Maybe the thrill wears off and we realize that we're just chasing the next exciting things. Or, maybe we lose our stuff. Our house is burglarized, or there's a fire, or a flood. And we realize that the things we lost are just things, that there are much more important parts of our lives. Well, if we don't find lasting happiness and security in possessions, where do we find it? In today's scripture, Jesus teaches us that it's foolish to become trapped in greed. He shows us that there are consequences to acting as if our possessions give our lives meaning. And he teaches us where to find true security. Do you know anyone who is wealthy? How does money affect the way that we live and view the world? For some wealthy people, there is a temptation to believe that money and possessions guarantee security and happiness. In the movie, Overboard, Goldie Hawn plays the part of Joanne. Joanne is a wealthy woman who cruises around the world on a yacht with her husband. They have more money than they can spend and they live lavishly. Then one day she falls overboard and loses her memory. In her amnesia, she lives in poverty with an uncivilized man and his boys. After she regains her memory, Joanne returns to the yacht where she has trouble fitting in with wealthy society. Her family is concerned, and a therapist is called in to diagnose her problem. Then, one night she finds herself in the ship's galley with the butler. They have a conversation about the way we view the world. Let's listen in... [VIDEOTAPE] Joanne has learned that her wealth and possessions are not the sum total of life's meaning. She has developed a new appreciation for relationships and being kind and understanding. Isn't that our challenge? Isn't Jesus calling us to see life from a fresh new perspective? A perspective that values our relationship with God and others more than whether we have the latest version of the Palm Pilot? Today's scripture has several things to say to us today. The first is: I. WE ARE THE WEALTHY You are one of the wealthiest people on earth. Does that sound odd? It might not feel like you're rich, but the truth is that you are very wealthy. As Americans, we enjoy one of the highest standards of living on this planet. And, as a relatively small part of the earth's population, we are among the spoiled rotten. Yes, there are poor people in the United States, and that population is growing. But compared to the rest of the world, we enjoy unparalleled wealth. Before we moved to Arizona, I served as youth minister at a United Methodist church in New York. Each year a group from our church went on a mission trip to Haiti. One of the members of our youth group, Dawn, went on the mission trip. One day she was talking to a little girl at the mission church. The little girl asked Dawn how many dresses she owned. Dawn thought for a minute and said, "I guess I have 9 or 10 dresses." The little girl's eyes grew wide in amazement. And she said, "Oh, so you're very rich." Dawn wanted to assure the little girl, that she wasn't anywhere close to being rich. But, she realized for the first time that, compared with the rest of the world, she enjoyed a very comfortable lifestyle. Last year Karen and I traveled to Morocco. One day we hired a Land Rover and traveled into the High Atlas Mountains of Northwestern Africa. There we saw tiny Berber villages clinging to the slopes. The villages were simple, with humble little houses. As we drove along, we met several young goatherders who were happy and peaceful and full of life. But, I couldn't help but notice that their houses had no electricity, or running water, or any of the appliances that we take for granted. And it hit me again - how wealthy we are in the United States. So, when we read the parable about the rich man, we shouldn't think that it's talking about someone else. We shouldn't assume that it's talking about the guy in the foothills in the $4 million house. We shouldn't assume that the parable is about Bill Gates or some other billionaire. In the scheme of the world, we are wealthy. And God is calling us to act responsibly with the many gifts we've been given. Today's scripture also teaches us that: II. RICHES DON'T PROVIDE REAL MEANING IN LIFE In the parable of the rich fool, he has such a successful year on his farm that he has more grain than he knows what to do with. What's his plan to deal with all of this surplus? Listen carefully: "This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, 'Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.'" Does that remind you of anyone? Last year we got a call at Primavera Builders from a woman who owned a house in the Sam Hughes area of Tucson. She wanted to know if she could donate this lovely old brick home to Primavera. The only catch was that we would have to move it to another lot. We asked why the house needed to be moved. "Oh," she said, "it's a nice old house. But I want to build a bigger house on my lot to hold all of my things." But Don, you might ask, isn't it okay to enjoy the money we earn? If we work hard, why shouldn't we enjoy the rewards we receive? If we look closely at the parable, Jesus doesn't describe the rich man as foolish simply because he has plenty. Of course we're entitled to our money as long as we've earned it legally and without taking advantage of the poor and weak. No, the rich man in the parable is foolish because he finds his security and well-being in his riches. He believes that his goods provide meaning, happiness, and security in his life. And Jesus teaches us that all of these things are merely temporary. Finally, the scripture teaches us that: III. WE ARE CALLED TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR RICHES Today's scripture passage ends with a warning. It tells us that the fate of the rich fool is waiting for all of us who store up things for ourselves, but are not rich toward God. What does it mean to be rich toward God? Well, I think that it means that we need to recognize God as the source of all our gifts and blessings. And, if we recognize God as the source of our riches, then it's easy to share those riches for God's purposes. But how do we go about sharing our riches with God. One way is to share our time. As Americans, we are blessed with an abundance of leisure time. Social science scholars today are studying how Americans can be more engaged in community life at a time when we all want to go home to our air-conditioned houses, to watch our big screen TVs, or log onto our home computers, or play our computerized games. So, how can you share the riches of your time? Here at Catalina, we are in desperate need of teachers for our children's Sunday School classes. We need committed adults who will take the time to prepare for class and teach our kids about God's love. In the community, there is great need for volunteer time to serve folks at the Community Food Bank, at the Primavera Homeless Shelters, at Big Brothers and Big Sisters. It's simply a matter of committing ourselves to use some of our time to benefit God's kingdom. We can also be rich toward God through the sharing of our talents. We are blessed here in the Contemporary Worship Service with people who using their skills to make this a better worship experience. But there are many other needs. We could use a good graphic artist to design our bulletin and to craft our community advertising. In the community, there are needs for people to share their talents in woodworking, or plumbing, or computer programming. How would you be rich toward God with your talents? And, of course, we can be rich toward God by sharing our money. Here at Catalina, the summertime offerings are always slow due to lower attendance. This summer is no different and we are currently behind in our budget. You could choose to make a special gift directly toward the church. Or, there are many organizations in our community who are seeking to do God's justice. We can share our financial resources with such groups. The opportunities to be rich toward God are plentiful. And God is waiting for us to demonstrate that we understand that our riches don't provide ultimate happiness or security. God waits for us here this morning with open arms to affirm that God alone provides that fulfillment and happiness.
Speaking from my own personal experience, I know that it's hard not to search for meaning and happiness in the things of this world. My head is often turned by the latest toy, or the newest car. But God calls us to remember that we do not find our definition, our fulfillment, our meaning in things. We find our deepest meaning and lasting security in God. And we celebrate that certainty this morning.
Amen. |