RBWords

     Jesus follows this comment with the parable of the Rich Fool (as tradition refers to him).  There are two aspects to this story.  The first is that possessions do not guarantee life.  Even the wealthiest folks get sick and die.  The second aspect, however, which is illustrated in this parable and in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) concerns sharing the wealth.  The Rich Fool does not share his wealth but rather builds bigger barns to hold it.  The Rich Man ignores Lazarus at his doorstep.  Jesus' message seems pretty clear, but I don't think it is heard nearly well enough.

     In Jesus' time and in our time, great wealth is equated with good standing in God's sight.  There are churches where the "gospel of prosperity" is regularly preached as if material wealth is the reward for being a good Christian.  Some very wealthy folks do establish charitable foundations that do very fine work.  Others put their wealth into promoting political causes that increase the misery of the poor.  In the Gospel According to Luke, Jesus consistently warns his disciples about the dangers of wealth and the way it can corrupt.  A less religious way of putting it might be, "Do we own our stuff, or does our stuff own us?"  Generosity is one way to deal with the pernicious influence of wealth, but it has to go beyond giving away the surplus to reach the heart.  AMEN