Rich Toward God

I continue here in Luke, chapter twelve. There are many verses to consider in this study; they are verses 15 through 38. I hope to condense these verses and wring from them a more concise sense of meaning.

Here are the verses of main import:

Luke 12:15, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:21, “So is he that lays up treasure for himself, but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:38, “And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.”

Between verses 15 and 21, Jesus told them about covetousness in the parable of a farmer who already had plenty for himself, but desired more. That 'more' was the fruit of his own labors. Everything he possessed or worked to manage, he himself had labored to obtain. The fact is, the man in the parable did not covet anything that belonged to other people, he was simply trying to get things set up for his retirement.

The man in the parable pulled down his old small barns and built new larger barns so that there would be room for his continuing harvests. Perhaps the man was old, and after working all his life, looked forward to a time when he could have the things he needed, but no longer had to work. He just wanted to enjoy life.

This story strikes a chord with me, and might for others as well, as I work my final few years toward retirement. I've worked away my life and good health; I've paid my dues. I look forward to my golden years in which I may draw my checks and no longer have to work for other people.

The man in the parable set up his larger barns and thought to himself that he was finally set – he could now take his ease. That very night, after all of his hard work, and as if to spite his well-laid plans and earnest hopes, he died. Everything he owned went to others. It happens to the poor and to the well off. After we die, all we possess goes to other people. I have known people who hoped to finally take it easy, only to die a month or two into their retirements.

The man in the parable, in order to have so much, surely hired laborers to achieve the possessions he hoarded. There was excess. He could have blessed the less fortunate with it. He could have handed out holiday bonuses to his workers.

The point here is not that we are condemned for having stuff in this life. The point is that our life here cannot be the limit of our concerns. God is a spirit, and like a farmer who has planted his spirit within us, he expects a harvest. Like a lender, God expects a return on his investment. Many of us hope to lay his harvest before him, with joy at his return.

We can either be rich toward ourselves, or we can be rich toward God. We cannot be both. Being rich toward God is a mindset that is more open and free than being rich toward ourselves. Getting our fair share from this world is a limited way of thinking. It is an exclusive mindset.

Between verses 21 and 38, Jesus made several good points:

He revealed the hallmarks of an exclusive mindset and limited world view.

He suggested a winning strategy for the inclusively inclined.

He revealed the place, in these truths, of the returning God.

The inclusive mindset is just like the mind of God. It is a spiritual match to the returning God, and what he is returning to receive. It is important to recall that God is returning from a wedding. It is the wedding of his son. That wedding, itself, is a spirit of inclusion and represents a sort of melding or fusing of like to like.

God provides the needs of all from the right-minded man to the man who has crippled his mind and limited his thinking. God even provides the needs of the animals who cannot think beyond the moment of their physical urges. God knows what we need and is inclusively inclined. If we do not ignore the needs of other people (and that does not mean that we must be itinerant and possessionless) then we are on the same page with God. It's a match.

The inclusive mindset has much to look forward to and much to hope for. Those who make a point to be on the same page with God know that all the goods of this world will be added. On the other hand, the exclusive mindset, in its self-limitation, cannot look past the moment of its physical urge. It refuses to see anything but fleeting worldly goods – and its need to get it's fair share before they are gone. These have nothing to place their hope in but rust and moth and loss.

Those who are a match with the spirit that is God, who make a point to be on the same page with him, and place their hope in his inclusive return, know the joy of such a meld. It is always on their minds and in their thinking. They are vigilant and watchful. They make it their business and go about it with determination. They have a practice and they have their sights set on the culmination, not of their own labors and rewards, but those of the returning God.

Watches are mentioned in connection with the return. Watches were three-hour divisions of the night. Watching, in general, implied being alert. The second and third watches were the period of the night when most people were asleep and unaware. Those who watched were able to sound and alarm in times of need or trouble. Just as posted sentries might watch for the accepted approach of the enemy, the servant will await the accepted return of the Son of God who will include those happy souls as adopted children of the Father.

I did not give attention every verse in this study. I am trusting that you will read them for yourselves. I hope that you will do more than simply read them. Study them, reread them, compare them to my assessment. Know with all the certainty you can muster that God returns for you. If you seek the Kingdom of God, if your heart is in it, then you are rich toward God.