Ecclesiastes 1:2,12-14;2:18-23 Psalm 49:1-11; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12: 13-21
The Rev. Drew Brislin
In the name of the one Holy and Undivided Trinity, Amen.
When I first looked over the Gospel reading for our lectionary this morning, I had to check the calendar to make sure we weren’t starting stewardship season a little early—although one could argue that it’s always stewardship season.
This reading focuses on the accumulation of wealth, with Jesus teaching us about our relationship with material things. As I read the passage, I was reminded of times when my brothers and I would comment on friends getting a new toy or, when we were older, wanting a certain kind of car. Our dad, who was quick with his wit and what you might call “southernisms,” would often respond, “I never saw a Brinks truck follow a hearse to a funeral.”
In doing some research, I discovered that this was originally a quote from Barbara Hutton—a 1930s New York socialite, daughter of the cofounder of E.F. Hutton, and granddaughter of Frank Woolworth, the founder of Woolworth’s department store. To say she came from considerable wealth is an understatement. I was also surprised to learn that my dad’s witty saying was not from a southerner.
I think my father’s use of the quote served two purposes: to stop us from comparing ourselves to others, and more importantly, to teach us to appreciate what we had rather than coveting what we didn’t.
In our Gospel reading this morning, we hear the story that has come to be known as the Parable of the Rich Fool. Jesus is in the middle of another large crowd when someone approaches him, seeking help in getting a better deal from his brother regarding the family inheritance. At the time, tradition held that the eldest son inherited the bulk of the family estate. It’s implied that the man is unhappy with how the wealth is being distributed, so he appeals to Jesus.
But Jesus responds rhetorically, asking, “Who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” In doing so, he seems to be communicating that he’s not there to divide property—and possibly even hinting that we should be cautious about our relationship with material possessions.
Why does Jesus respond this way? After all, didn’t Joseph advise Pharaoh to store up grain in preparation for a famine? Don’t we teach our children to save and be frugal? Don’t we advise people to save and to prepare for retirement?
Taken literally, this parable can be challenging. Jesus begins by saying, “There was a rich man…”—a phrase that often signals a warning. This character typically represents someone extraordinarily wealthy, selfish, and disconnected from the poor. We’re also told that the land produced abundantly. That’s key: the man’s wealth didn’t come from his own doing—it was a gift from God.
Yet, in his internal dialogue, the rich man repeatedly says “my crops,” “my barns,” “my goods.” He plans to tear down his barns to build bigger ones and says to himself, “You have ample goods laid up for many years.” At no point does he invite God into the decision-making process or acknowledge that his abundance is a gift. In Deuteronomy 8, God warns Israel not to forget Him when they become wealthy, reminding them that everything they have is the result of God’s covenant and provision and that they are to glorify Him in all things. To feed the hungry, Scripture tells us, is like laying an offering on the altar of God. In caring for those less fortunate we are glorifying God.
Appreciating God’s blessings is not the same as hoarding them. And Jesus isn’t demanding that the wealthy sell everything they own. The expectation is that those with means will give from their surplus.
In 2010, some of the world’s wealthiest individuals launched what’s known as the Giving Pledge. People like Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates, MacKenzie Scott, and Ted Turner pledged to give away most of their wealth—not leaving it all to their estates, but letting it go to work doing good in the world.
This Gospel passage isn’t just about investments and savings—it’s about distractions. Both the man arguing over his inheritance and the rich man in the parable are distracted, just like Martha was in our reading a couple of weeks ago. Martha was so consumed by what needed to be done that she lost focus on Jesus. Similarly, these men are preoccupied with material wealth and fail to invite God into their hearts and decisions.
When we leave God out of the center of our lives, we risk letting our possessions—and the busy-ness of life—possess us. When this happens we miss out on the opportunities God puts in front of us to meet new people and to see His image in those we serve.
As I continue to pack and prepare for our move and transition in the coming weeks, I found myself especially mindful of this message. I want to leave you this morning with a prayer that was reportedly found in Bear Bryant’s wallet after his death:
“This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or I can use it for good.
What I do today is important, because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever.”
When we give of our time and of our treasure to help others we are truly living into God’s call to serve the least of these and I see so much of that here at Ascension. Whether in scouting, in New Beginnings, in our feeding ministries in our efforts to be better neighbors we are giving from our abundance rather than storing up and that is something truly worth exchanging for a day in our lives.
Amen.