July 26, 2022
Dear Family of Our Redeemer’s
“LIVE GENEROUSLY”
It would be interesting to hear what the market research from Thrivent Financial has learned about the impact the above slogan has had on peoples thinking and behavior. I have seen their T-shirts with the now familiar slogan being worn in our community by people of various churches, not just Lutheran. The mind-set of generous living is certainly at the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
As I prepare for the sermon this coming Sunday, July 31, the Gospel Reading from Luke 12:13-21, often called the Parable of the rich fool, portrays the natural tendency that all of us struggle with every day. Our first inclination is to live a selfish life rather than a generous life. Jesus calls the rich man a fool because he is focused on storing up treasures for himself but is not rich toward God. Jesus goes on to make it clear that all who live with that mindset are fools.
I recall a church member in one of the congregations I served who used every opportunity possible to encourage fellow parishioners to include the church in the distribution of their assets after they died. He, himself, had already made those arrangements in his will and felt strongly that it was the right thing to do to assure that the ministry of the Church, which had been so meaningful to him, could continue to fulfill its mission when he was gone. This same member would often remind people that he had never seen a U-HAUL TRAILER being towed behind a Funeral Hearse so that the treasures of the deceased could be buried with the body of that person. How do we manage the treasures that God has entrusted to us while we are living? What arrangements have we made for the distribution of money and property that is left behind when we die?
The contrast between a “rich fool” and one who is “rich toward God” is worthy of some consideration. In which category do you fit? In which category do I fit? What standard or model do we use to determine if we are living as a “fool” or a “faithful manager“?
The life of Jesus himself is always the “gold standard” for trying to live as faithful managers of our lives. What would Jesus do? What did Jesus do? He gave up all “privilege” and became a servant. He demonstrated that life is to be “spent” not “hoarded”. He poured out His soul in love for others. His total life sacrifice led to his death. But God raised Him from the dead. The total self-giving of Jesus continues to give life and empowerment to us. God’s living presence in each of us each day also enables us to be “rich toward God” instead of a ‘rich fool“. It is helpful to remember the song that was often used as part of our offering: “All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee“.
Blessings on your journey as a faithful manager,
Interim Supply Pastor, Fred Mai
