Luke Parrott

A Parable of the Rich (American) Fool

 

With new bailouts every few weeks and an economy that is officially in recession, we are vividly coming to terms with the glaring greed of America.  Even Congress is fed up with the Big 3 automobile companies that would be so bold as to travel to the White House in private corporate jets to plead for money to keep their industry afloat.

And when that trickles down to 2,000 people standing out in front of Wal-mart on Black Friday with enough greed to trample an employee to death just to get the cheapest deal...you know something is wrong.

Jesus made up a story that might hit home for us if we change the main role from a farmer to a business man.

"...for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."  Luke 12:15

A rich man's company became very successful and he thought to himself, "What should I do?  I have made such a huge profit from the work of my hands."  So he said, "I will do this:  I will rigorously invest my profits, expand my portfolio, and prepare to retire early and quite comfortably."

But God said to him, "FOOL!  This very night your life is going to be taken from you, and all the profits and assets from your successful company, whose will they be?

"So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."  Luke 12:21

It's the parable of Jesus that has come true for many of us today in America.  (Yes, if you are reading this you have access to internet which already puts you in the top 25% of the richest in the world).

Jesus was not trying to make a fool of rich people in his story.  He was making a fool of rich people who are greedy.  Since we live in the United States we must consider the wealth that we possess.  We must ask ourselves if we can escape this parable without it applying to our own bank accounts and investment portfolios.

"YOU FOOL!", God says to those who aggressively save for the future only to hoard money that could have been used for such a greater good than one's own personal comforts.  The next passage immediately following this parable urges us not to worry about provision.  God will provide just as he does for the raven! 

It is important to be wise with finances, but we should be careful not to let our greed hide behind a guise of stewardship.  We may be saving more than is necessary.  Storing up treasures for a future life in Florida rather than for one in heaven.

Put your treasure where your heart is!  Is your heart in a comfortable retirement package or something bigger...something more Kingdom minded?

Unless You Change and Become Like a Homeless Man (?)

I was reading Matthew 18 today, a phenomenal chapter on how Jesus intends his new community to function.  In a broken world, Jesus came with a kingdom in mind.  A Kingdom that would heal the brokenness around us.

The disciples wanted to know "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Meanwhile, they were thinking this 'kingdom' talk was going to be something military in nature that would drive out the Romans.

So Jesus brings a little child over to him and says "...unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."  (So much for a military victory, right?)

In the community of Christ, where the world functions as it should, we are called to move ourselves into the position of a child.  In those days, children were viewed with no status or privileges.  He was calling his disciples to a state of humility.  Putting others before oneself.  Laying down your status for the benefit of the other.

Perhaps today Jesus would say you must change and become like this homeless man

Redemptive Work

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  Mark 10:45

I love my church.  Pastor Robert always brings the truth to bear on our hearts.  This week he took us to this story of Jesus.  And he challenged us to live our lives in this manner.

To experience his redemption.

And then go and redeem others.

Just as Jesus brought freedom to us, so we must be about his business. Where are people in chains?  Go and bring them Jesus' story of redemption.  His kingdom of releasing the captives.

He challenged us to consider who the captives are.  And then to serve them, giving our lives to the cause of their release.

What does that look like for me?  Today, it is with the teenagers to which I devote my time and energy.  The ones caught up in an "empty way of life" as I Peter 1:18 calls it.  The ones struggling to find themselves amidst a noisy culture.  The ones looking to find answers in a broken world.

Where will you apply yourself this week?  To what redemptive cause?

There are captives all over this world.  Across the ocean, across the fence, and next to your desk.

Think Big.  148 millions orphans.  1.4 billion in poverty. 
Think Small.  Your friend who doesn't know Jesus because you never told him the amazing stories.

Redemption comes in both the physical and spiritual.  Just remember what Jesus said about being a ransom.  It will cost you your life.  Your free time.  Your energy.  Your calendar.  Your bank account.  And perhaps worse.  But we come as Jesus did, not to be served but to serve.

The way of Jesus is easy to describe, hard to follow, but impossible to live without.