Jesus often uses parables to illustrate his teachings. We have one of those parables in today’s Gospel lesson. Jesus begins by making clear to his listeners that he wants them to guard against greed in their lives. Then he tells a short parable about a man who harvests a large amount of crops, so large that he decides to build new barns to hold them all. Once he does that, he declares his delight in having so much. ‘All is well,’ he thinks. Not so. God calls the man a fool for what has done. For storing up possessions. For his sense of self-satisfaction.
Jesus concludes his teaching with the statement,” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” Rich toward God. What an intriguing phrase! Most of the time, we think or say “rich in.” Food is rich in flavor. Music is rich in tone. A place may be rich in resources. When referring to people we may say that they are “rich in wisdom” or “rich in insight.” In all of those phrases we look inward, noting qualities that are possessed.
But Jesus is telling us that we should be “rich toward God.” We should not be directed inward, but outward—toward God. What does it mean to be rich toward God? A few possibilities come to mind: openness to God, service, prayer. I invite you to reflect on the question yourselves. How can you be rich toward God in your life?
Peace,
Deacon Sue
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