20100307
Singaporeans believe that possessions and wealth are answers to a good life. Financial planning for retirement, investments that bring in high returns along with accumulating everything you think you may need are deemed prudent and necessary. A person is often judged by how much he possesses (car he drives?). The Bible does teach us a lot about wealth and the wealthy. Many Biblical characters like the patriarchs Abraham and Job are examples of wealthy people. Jesus never said that it is wrong to be wealthy. However, wealth can be illusive. Jesus tells us that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt. 19:24).He cautions us on the importance of how we manage and use the ‘extra’ wealth. It is the misuse of wealth that is the cause of the rich man’s fall. Wealth tends to trap us into being selfish with a tendency towards greed and a craving for more materialism and ultimately developing insensitivity to others around us who need our help – just as sin traps us.
In the parable of “the rich fool”, the man failed to recognize that it is God who made the ground and prospered the harvest though he may have contributed to its productivity. Had he thought of sharing his possessions with the needy instead of storing it up in bigger barns, the outcome for him could be different. This lesson is a reminder to all Christians that all things belong to God and we are merely stewards of the possessions He has blessed us with during our life on earth. The rich fool allowed his concern of his great wealth to eclipse the far more important consequence of what he should have done for his soul. We should heed Jesus’ advice to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20) rather than material possessions of this world. Our time in eternity with God counts for more than our existence on earth with wealth.
The last three words “rich toward God” (Lk. 12:21) of the parable tell of what Christians ought to do – to be. Our faith in Jesus must first be strong. This faith enriches us by giving us the blessings of forgiveness, joy, happiness and peace. When we carry out good works for God, they are the result of these blessings and reflect our gratitude that will enrich us with present happiness and future rewards. These are things that the world cannot give or take away.
