Watch Out

I was thinking...

Just how dangerous is greed? Have you ever asked that question? The third Gospel in the New Testament is Luke, and it is are these words: “Someone from the crowd said to (Jesus), ‘Teacher, tell my brothers to divide the inheritance with me’. Jesus said to him, ‘Man, who appointed me as judge or referee between you and your brother’? Then Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions, even when someone is very wealthy’.” (12:13-15, CEB)

Greed must be extremely dangerous for Jesus to say, “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed.” Greed must be rather slippery for “Watch out!” to be the warning clarion. I’m guilty. Are you? It is so very difficult to distinguish between being a wise steward of provision and being a greedy hoarder out of fear of not having enough. Where is the red line that is crossed between smart preparation and greedy selfishness?

I have way more than I need. Do you? I grew up with one pair of tennis shoes. I now have six pairs that I rotate on a weekly basis. I have way more than I need. Do you? The unanswerable question a few years ago for me was “How much money do you need to feel like you can retire comfortably?” The answers to this question range widely across the spectrum. I only pray I’ve prepared enough. Have you ever wrestled with such a question?

I grew up in one house. I only have one house now, but there are some who have two or three houses. One for the beach, one for the mountains, and one for everyday living. Some even share such getaway locations with others, so I don’t begrudge such living or asset investing, but I do wonder how much is too much? Should Jesus' words, “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed,” offend us or direct us? I suspect my even listing this example has caused the ire in some to rise to a warmer level.

I fear that in this beloved country of ours called America, there is blindness for many to where the red line is located. Our capitalist society makes the gift of earning possible, but left unchecked, we join a rat race of hoarding that becomes almost insulting to the rest of the world. Just look at the increase in storage units in our communities these days. We are bothered by data centers, and we should be careful with these unknown atrocities. Perhaps, though, we ought to be bothered, if not more bothered, by the number of storage units for storing our often hoarded stuff.

Just how dangerous is greed? Very dangerous. This is why Jesus said, “Watch out!” I wonder about his tone of voice when he said it. Was it stern? I wonder about the look on his face. Was it with eyebrows crunched? What we do know, at least according to the Gospel writer Luke, is that after Jesus offered this "Watch out!" warning, he told a story (a parable) about a rich man who had been successful with his crops. The man tore down his smaller barns and built bigger ones. Then he said to himself, "You have stored up plenty of goods, enough for several years. Take it easy! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."

What was this barn-building man’s error? Wasn’t he just being smart about his future? According to Jesus, who said, “God said to this barn-building man, ‘Fool, tonight you will die. Now, who will get the things you have prepared for yourself?”

And now Jesus brings home the truth. Are we ready for it? Here it is… “This is the way it will be for those who hoard things for themselves and aren’t rich toward God.” (12:16-21, CEB)

The error was in only thinking of himself and not of the way of God’s grace, generosity, and mercy toward others. In other words, the opposite of hoarding is sharing.

Watch out! Those are powerful and helpful words if we really hear them. They can offend, or they can direct. Which will it be for us?

Just how dangerous is greed? Very dangerous, indeed.

Always thinking...