The Voice of God is interrupting us from our lazy Summer daydreams. The fact is that we have too many distractions from worship and obedience. The scriptures speak especially to me, but you’re invited to listen in: counter-cultural, they hit us between the eyes for not sharing, and hoarding what’s been given to us. We’re reminded of the song from PORGY & BESS that claims, “I’ve God Plenty of Nuthin'”. And indeed, without God, it IS nuthin’.
HOSEA 11:1-11 imagines God speaking to Israel and all of us rebellious children: “I will not again execute my fierce anger: I will not again destroy Ephraim …” But these children–and us–kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols! Is God’s just anger going to come upon us? Or does God’s compassion grow warm and tender? Does that mean we can continue putting our trust in military might and storing up junk just in case? Or will God’s patience run out? “Ephraim, an early runaway, is running still, in a mad return to enslavement.”(Paul Simpson Duke, in FEASTING on the WORD, C 3:293)
Whoever wrote it, COLOSSIANS 3:1-11 is inserted to help church members keep loyal to the Presence of Christ. Five idols are listed, and there may be more: “fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed”. These are all marks of the Old System which has ruled our lives, whether we be ancient Israelites or contemporary pew-sitters anxious to get to the next thing. But by our baptism we have been given NEW clothing, putting off the old rags of idolatry and “putting on the new self” which is found in Christ.
Ruh-roh. LUKE’s Gospel, 12:13-21, is a parable of Jesus which is aimed at me! It describes an idolatry close to my own heart: Too. Much. Stuff. It seems that a guy had too much, so he did what we all would do: he got more space. Never mind sharing with those who had less. Don’t even consider giving it away. Make sure that any who get government programs of help are deserving–and temporary… But God says, “You jerk! What happens when you die? Who’s in your will?”
We’re invited to place our trust in God’s economy, rather than the ups and downs of the Global rat-race. Is God crying as God watches our planned accumulation? To God all praise and glory…
In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King
Come listen in every Tuesday–and share with your friends–to how the scriptures to be heard on the upcoming weekend continue to accost us…at horacebrownking.com
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