Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms.” vss. 32-33a
Luke 12:32-34
When we take the words of Jesus seriously and make them the focus of our scriptural study, it’s stunning to discover how often he speaks about riches and wealth. So, if your pastor seems to be talking about money more often that you find comfortable, that pastor is not off base. In fact, it’s the pastors who don’t preach about money who are distorting scripture. Jesus regularly taught his disciples about the dangers of wealth and the value of giving our stuff away. Here, after talking about the temptations of accumulation, he bluntly tells them to sell their stuff and use the profits to give assistance to the poor. Very few people do this. Our ties to possessions are unbelievably strong and we’ve learned through the generations that there are benefits that come to those with good pensions and solid savings accounts. But occasionally we run across people whose generosity astounds us and who regularly give away large sums of money. Often, we discover that they can do this because they’ve simply stopped worrying about how much they have and have discovered the freedom that comes with living simply. And while that may not be exactly what Jesus taught, it does come close! The serenity that comes with kingdom living is not connected to the abundance of our possessions.
Thought for the Day: What would happen if I stopped worrying about money?
0 Comments