Yesterday Jesus asked me for five dollars; I gave him forty cents. He was disguised as an older fellow dressed in shabby clothes, sitting on the steps of the downtown post office. He was pretty disappointed, so I offered a cold “God Bless You” over my shoulder as I passed. Reaching my car, it occurred to me that my devotional reading earlier in the day was about Compassion. I could still go back! Did I? Nope. It’ll probably be too late tomorrow, too. This Sunday’s readings address –again– the have-nots and the Kingdom of God.
Jeremiah had prophesied that Jerusalem would be overrun by the Babylonians. Since the spin-doctors didn’t want to hear that, he was under house arrest in the Court of the Guard within the royal compound. (Jeremiah 32) There he was visited by his cousin Hanamel, who offered to sell Jeremiah a field which had been in their family for many generations. Even though it was war-time, and Jeremiah didn’t expect to win, he bought it as a sign that God’s People would someday return and claim their heritage. “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” In the long run, expecting God’s ultimate triumph, what will be valuable?
The two letters to Timothy, ascribed to Paul, are warm encouragement from a revered mentor to one trying to find his way, often in over his head. How to engage those who have money? “Command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share….” (I Timothy 6:17-18) We poor folks agree with this, but we rich people tend to see it as idealism. I never thought myself wealthy until I met those living in real poverty. Where are my good works and generosity?
Then of course, there’s Lazarus. (Luke 16:19-31) The “rich man” is anonymous ,but God knows Lazarus by name. The rich guy didn’t get sent to eternal torment because he was wealthy, but because of his lousy attitude, judgmental and selfish. We can’t improve a bit on this parable, so we won’t go into explanations: the message hits us squarely! But it scares me: how many hungry beggars have I stepped over every day without helping? “When did we see you, Lord…..?”
Appointed to my student parish while in Seminary at age 23, I was in awe of life-time Christians much older than I. During my first week, my lay-leader told me, “Whatever you do, don’t preach about MONEY!” Timothy-like, I replied, “Hmmmm.:” The same fellow took me aside a year or so later with the same admonition. With graduate-school brashness, I this time replied, “I’ll preach about money only as much as Jesus did!” May you be prosperous, and may your generosity exceed your wealth!
God Bless Us, Every One H B King
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