[For The Citizen newspaper - June 23, 2022]
What are you counting on to truly satisfy you? Is it working?
“I can’t get no satisfaction” is the title of a song by the Rolling Stones, released in June 1965, their first ‘Number 1' single in America. The theme of their song sums up the dissatisfaction fed by our insatiable consumerism, addicted to advertising. The first verse of their song goes: “When I'm driving in my car / When a man come on the radio / He's telling me more and more / About some useless information / Supposed to fire my imagination / [I can’t get no satisfaction...]”
If we’re counting on worldly wealth to give us security, fluctuations in the markets and vagaries of the economy, complicated by global conflicts and supply chain issues, are enough to give us the heeby-jeebies. There will always be a newer model, better features, tempting us to upgrade. When will we ever reach ‘enough’? The Bible points out, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10) The millionaire John D.Rockefeller was asked one time, “How much does it take to satisfy a man completely?” He said, “It takes a little bit more than he has.”
In the parable of the rich fool, Jesus reminded us what’s really worth putting our trust in, what can truly satisfy and won’t finally disappoint us. “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’” (Luke 12:16f ) Does the thought ever cross his mind that he might give some away? Be generous, because maybe others haven’t been so fortunate? Maybe their land missed a shower or two at seasons that were critical for kernels to set. Maybe their parents or ancestors fell into serious debt and had to sell their land. What an opportunity to be a big blessing to his neighbours! He could donate a truckload to the local community food bank. He could sell it and convert it into funds to buy food in war-torn or drought-hit areas on other continents through Canadian Foodgrains Bank. (Well, at least now he could!) Maybe back then it would take the form of donating more through the temple system, for Levites to distribute to the needy in their local areas.
But no, our fool doesn’t think globally, or even locally. All he can think about is himself! He narcissistically has an inner dialogue with himself. “Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’” (vv18f ) Literally, “keep on” relaxing, “keep on being” merry – a protracted private party stretching on interminably into the sunset. At least, in his mind...
Here we see, in its rawest form, the selfish, grasping, insular mindset of our consumer culture, closed in upon itself. Sealed up so tight it can barely breathe. The unholy trinity of “me, myself, and I”. A person who’s all wrapped up in themselves makes a very small package!
The rich hoarder is in for a rude shock. Despite his best conjuring of a preferred future, it’s not to be. God is about to prick the balloon of his over-inflated selfishness. “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” (Luke 12:20) The meaninglessness of having heaped up wealth, like Ecclesiastes said, is about to become abundantly obvious. The fool thought he was ‘all set’, but there are many things money cannot buy – and that includes long life.
Paul Lee Tan wrote, “There are many things that money cannot buy. Money can buy: A bed but not sleep. Books but not brains. Food but not an appetite. Finery but not beauty. A house but not a home. Medicine but not health. Pleasures but not peace. Luxuries but not culture. Amusements but not joy. A crucifix but not a Saviour. A church building but not heaven.”
Jesus’ closing line points in a different direction about what it means to be truly rich: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” (12:21) Wow! Now there’s a phrase worth unpacking! What’s it mean to be ‘rich toward God’? How is the Master prodding us to redefine “rich”?
When we’re rich toward God, we put our trust in Him not in gold.
When we’re rich toward God, we say to Him, “You are my security.”
When we’re rich toward God, we fear Him most of all, we revere Him, we treasure Him, He’s dear to our heart.
When we’re rich toward God, we sense He’s pleased to give us the Kingdom, He’s looking out for our basic needs like food and clothes even more than He regularly furnishes for the ravens and the lilies as we seek His priorities.
Being rich in our relationship with the Lord must surely be reflected in time we want to spend with Him, listen to Him by reading His word, sharing our concerns and requests with Him through prayer, pursuing more depth about what it means to be a follower of Jesus through group study and fellowship with other believers.
Scripture suggests when we share with others in need, God perceives that as ‘richness’ in the sense of giving to Him. “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17) As has been said, “Do your givin’ while you’re livin’ then you’re knowin’ where it’s goin’!”
John Greenleaf Whittier wrote this poem about the blessing of giving... “Somehow, not only for Christmas / But all the long year through, / The joy that you give to others / Is the joy that comes back to you. / And the more you spend in blessing / The poor and the lonely and sad, / The more of your heart’s possessions / Return to make you glad.”
