Luke 12: 13-34
(for Canada's Thanksgiving)
A teacher asked her students to list what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World. The students cast the most votes for:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids 2. Taj Mahal 3. Grand Canyon 4. Panama Canal 5. Empire State Building 6. St. Peter's Basilica 7. China's Great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not turned in her paper yet. She asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.
The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:
1. to see 2. to hear 3. to touch 4. to taste 5. to feel 6. to laugh 7. to love 1.
I think I would add an eighth--to be grateful, and to be able to give thanks.
A thankful heart is a wonderful treasure.
Luke 12: 13-34
(for Canada's Thanksgiving)
A teacher asked her students to list what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World. The students cast the most votes for:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids 2. Taj Mahal 3. Grand Canyon 4. Panama Canal 5. Empire State Building 6. St. Peter's Basilica 7. China's Great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not turned in her paper yet. She asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.
The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:
1. to see 2. to hear 3. to touch 4. to taste 5. to feel 6. to laugh 7. to love 1.
I think I would add an eighth--to be grateful, and to be able to give thanks.
A thankful heart is a wonderful treasure.
It's interesting to think what all the answers would be to the question, "what do you most want right now?"
I wonder how many of us would say, "to be really thankful"?
Not that we aren't thankful, but is a grateful heart something we really value?
When we are thankful, we are aware of being recipients of some favor or blessing.
I read an interesting quote by Scott Hafemann:
The essence of sin is misguided gratitude, not ingratitude. As dependent creatures we all thank someone or something (usually ourselves!) for what we experience and achieve. The ultimate object of our gratitude becomes the object of our worship. 2.
In our text today, Jesus tells the story of a rich farmer.
When you look at the language used, the man speaks of I, me and mine.
my grain
my fields
my crops
my barns
my goods
The man has no sense of gratitude and three simple words would have saved his situation--thank you, Lord.
But as Scott Hafemann points out, he has made himself, and especially his possessions, the god of his life and when the final bill comes due, he cannot pay.
Let's keep something in mind, however. This man is no villain in the usual sense. He is hardworking. If you have ever lived in a farming community, you know that no one goes into farming to turn a quick buck. Farming doesn't produce instant farming-dot-com millionaires.
This man is rich, but it came from nothing but hard work, good business practices, some good timing; but above all, hard work. He is likely the model farmer in his area. All his neighbors admire him as the way to do farming at its best.
But there is a fly in the ointment.
Haddon Robinson describes the scene in this parable:
It is late at night and the man is working at his desk, pouring over the blue-prints of his new barns. His architect is there with him, as he considers how these will be not just a utilitarian function, but will also be his legacy in the area. They have to be just right. The architect yawns and decides its time to go home. After a bit the man's wife comes downstairs and asks how long he is going to work--its late. He tells her he has a few more details he wants to look at, then he will turn in.
Alone in the room, he hears a knock at the door and before he can even look up, he sees a presence there with him in the room.
"Who are you?" he asks.
"I am death. I have come for you." replies the stranger.
"You can't take me...not now. I am not prepared for this, and you gave me no warning!"
Death smiles, "oh yes, I gave you fair warning. Remember your neighbor who died last month. You knew it would come to you. And those workmen killed last year. You knew life is unpredictable. And at every funeral for a friend, you were reminded that your turn would come. Oh yes, you had plenty of notice."
"10....9.....8....7"
"Wait", says the man, "I have a bargain for you. I will give you half of all I have. Just leave me."
"What would I do with this?" says death.
" 6....5....4..."
"I will give it all to you. It's yours!"
"3...2...1"
At the funeral he is given a splendid burial. There are eulogies about him as a pioneer, a visionary, a pillar of the community. All the important people in the town sing his praises. Then they take his casket and place it in the ground with a few less words. A stone is place to mark the spot. On it are written many of the same words: Industrious, visionary, pillar of the community.
Then the people leave and return to their homes.
Later in the day as the light begins to fade, the angel of the Lord comes walking among the graves. He stops and writes a word on the man's stone, that no one but the angel can see. He writes a simple four-letter word.
"F--O--O--L" 3
Jesus says, "beware of covetousness. For what will a man give in exchange for his own soul?"
I think we can ask, "what do we exchange for our own souls?
Beware of covetousness. I think this is the four star sin of our time--even more potent than all the sex and pornography we are exposed to. I think covetousness is far more dangerous because it looks so benign and ordinary. And because it is reflected nearly everywhere in our world.
The message is clear:
Accumulate as much as you can.
Your neighbors will respect you for it.
Your family will love you for it.
You will find peace of mind for it.
You've seen the ads for the brokerage houses. It is the man or woman whose money is securely accumulating more who has peace of mind in an anxious world.
Let the stock market slip and the anxiety level of the entire community jumps four notches.
A number of years ago I decided to sell the savings bonds I owned. They were accumulating a miserly six percent or something. That will tell you the approximate date.
I was sure I could do better. So I bought gold. Not the actual metal, but certificates that said I owned this much gold--somewhere.
Well that was fine, but then I began watching the price of gold.
It wasn't long before I started looking for it every day in the newspaper.
And it wasn't long after that, this was the first item I looked for every day in the newspaper.
It's amazing how quickly your mind, your imagination and your soul can be overtaken by the desire to accumulate.
The slogan they use to sell lottery tickets....."Can you imagine...?"
Oh yes, its easy to imagine. In fact our imaginations are very fertile ground for the sin of covetousness.
But Jesus says, this is how it is for those who are rich in this world's possessions, but not rich toward God.
He means they are as good as dead.
Haddon Robinson says its like the fly and the flypaper.
The fly says, "my fly paper" and lands on it.
The paper says, "my fly", and the fly is dead.4
By contrast, Jesus tells us of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. They do not fret themselves into anxiety over possessing or accumulating and their creator cares for them.
And how much more valuable in God's eyes are we than the birds or the flowers which bloom and wither and are gone?
If God cares for His creation, won't he care for us?
So why are we anxious about wealth and accumulating?
Fear God and you need fear nothing else.
So this morning we come to the Lord's table. And we give thanks.
What do we value so highly that we will give our life in exchange?
Consider this: See how Jesus has valued us that He has given His life in exchange for ours.
And can your cherish the miracle of gratitude?
Can you come to this table today this Thanksgiving and say those three magical words--"Thank you, Lord"?
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One.
Give thanks, because He's given
Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich"
because of what the Lord has done.
Give thanks
Give thanks.
Give thanks.
Amen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preached October 12, 2003
Dr. Harold McNabb
West Shore Presbyterian Church
Victoria, British Columbia
Notes:
1.Phil Myers, getSynergized Newsletter (7-27-03); Chesterton, Indiana
2. Scott J Haffemann, The God of Promise and the LIfe of Faith, Crossway, 2001 p.36
3. Haddon Robinson, A Good Lesson From a Bad Example, PreachingToday.com, Sept. 2003
4. Ibid
Online resource
PreachingToday.com