Christ Lutheran Church
Cleveland OH
August 3, 2025
by: Rev. Lynn Podoll

Sermon for 7/13/25 – Pent 8 – Proper 13 – Christ Lutheran – Luke 12:13-21

“Fool!” A strong word in any language. And the Greek word used in Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel reading also carries with it the idea of ignorance, so it is certainly something we would not like to be called.

It’s an idea that pops up all over the Bible. Some of those passages are very familiar to you. Both Psalms 14 and 53 begin with the familiar words, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” And it’s used in various other ways. For example, St. Paul uses it in his first letter to the Corinthians: “… the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” (1:18) and again “The foolishness of God is wiser than men….” (1:28)

Today’s Gospel begins with a man interrupting Jesus while he is teaching: “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” (Luke 12:13) Now, rabbis were often asked to settle family disputes. But Jesus immediately recognizes that the man’s problem is not a legal issue to be negotiated. His problem is greed/covetousness; he is not seeking God’s will or the way that is God-pleasing to solve this family conflict. He has already decided what should be done, and he wants Jesus to make it happen.

Does this sound familiar? Is this how we often approach God? We have decided what should be done, and we want God to make it happen, not even asking the question whether it is God’s will.
Covetousness, greed; nearly everything in our world and in our carnal hearts pull us toward that sin. If you watch any commercial television at all, you know that we are constantly told that if life is truly going to be fulfilling we need this cream or soap or vehicle or gadget; you are not complete, you are not fulfilled if you don’t have it. You must get it. And we are constantly tempted to doubt our blessed Lord’s words that “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (v. 15) Remember the bumper stick many years ago that said, “He who dies with the most toys wins”? About that same time I remember seeing one that read, “He who dies with the most toys is still dead!” And that truth rings later in today’s Gospel.

As he so often does, Jesus makes his point with a story, a parable. A rich farmer had a bumper crop. It was so large that he didn’t have room to store it. So he decides he needs bigger barns. What is fascinating about this story is that he has done nothing wrong or sinful up to this point, nor does he plan to.

It’s in the next verse that the farmer goes spiritually off track. With his goods safely stowed, he plans to speak to his soul. Now let’s note that he recognizes that he has a soul. But that also carries with it a certain reality. The fact that you have a soul means that the soul has a very different life: you are made for more than this world. That’s a point the man does not get. While he has worked hard, no doubt, he thinks only of himself. And “there’s the rub!” His words reveal the man’s heart – or soul, if you prefer. The man needs an attitude adjustment, just like we do sometimes.

How often do we think only of ourselves? We work hard, and we think only of how our income is going to benefit us. What should the man in our parable have said to his soul? Might he have asked, “Soul, how would God have us use this great largesse that he has provided?” or “Soul, how might I invest this to benefit someone else, perhaps long-term.?” I’m sure you can think of several questions he might have asked his soul. Then the question comes to us, “Do you ask those questions” when you are blessed?

(Parenthetically, let’s note that none of the activities he mentions are in and of themselves evil: his plans could be quite innocent – godly, even. “Relax, eat, drink, and be merry.” There is a place to relax. Those who drive themselves all the time are not living a godly life. We have one commandment that tells us that once a week, we are to rest; we are to step away from the frantic pace of life and take long breathes and restore ourselves. I sometimes have to remind other pastors as well as parishioners of this. Of course we have to eat; that keeps us alive. Contrary to what some say, our Lord does not forbid drinking. After all he provided a very large supply of wine for a wedding – and it was good stuff, too! I am convinced that at times Jesus was merry with his disciples. I suspect he may have had a sip or two of that good wedding wine. It is important to understand that these things in and of themselves are not evil. But all things need to be done in moderation.)

But God in the parable calls the man “Fool,” and perhaps an ignorant one at that. The issue is attitude. He plans to just lie around for years indulging himself. And that is a problem. We are designed for work, and what happens when we do not work? We are not living out the vocations to which God has called us.

One set of questions I tried to instill in my children, and now my grandchildren is, when you receive something, whether it’s a gift or a salary or whatever, ask three “S” questions. “What should I Spend, what should I Save, and what should I Share? We need to pray to find the right balance. If I spend it all right away, like the grasshopper in the fable I may not have anything to get me through lean times. If I save it all, I easily become Ebenezer Scrooge, accumulating for the sake of hoarding. If I share it all, again, I may not have the resources to take care of myself and my family. So it is a matter of balance, which is why we need to always be asking, “What is God’s will in this matter right now?” And that is why we need to be praying for God’s wisdom, God’s will to be done, in that specific moment.
The old proverb says, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” You notice that our rich farmer does not include that last part. So God provides it; but it is not even tomorrow. It is tonight that this man will be called to judgment, to give an account of his stewardship.

Jesus concludes our text with these challenging words: “So it is with one who lays up treasures for himself and is not rich toward God.” (v. 21) Obsession with money and possessions can crowd God’s way right out of our hearts. And that obsession is not necessarily limited to one social class. Luther put it this way in the Large Catechism: “This is the most common idol on earth. He who has money and possessions feels secure and is joyful and undismayed as though sitting in the midst of Paradise. On the other hand, he who has no money doubts and is despondent, as though he knew of no God.” (Part 1, 7-8)

So how do we become “rich toward God,” as Jesus puts it? That’s a question that you can get lots of answers to. Most of those answers involve “getting your act together.” Others will tell you that you should send a significant contribution to them and God will reward you richly. They all involve something you have to do. And they are all off base! The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Convention in June this year met under the theme, “Growing in God’s Grace,” based on 2 Peter 3:18. One of the most memorable moments for me was, ironically, in the last comic skit, when one of the characters said, “’Growing in God’s Grace’ does not mean trying harder.”

So how are we to be “rich toward God”? To be rich toward God means nothing less than the discovery that God has been rich toward us. St. Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (3:16) Being rich toward God isn’t about our trying harder. Now do we have spiritual things to work on? I don’t know about you, but I know I have plenty of work to do on myself. But all the work I can do for however long God gives me on this earth does not make me “rich toward God.” That blessing is from trusting the promise that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself,” (2 Corinthians 5:19). It is trusting that on October 5, 1941, when Pastor Mueller poured water over my head and spoke God’s Word over me God made me promises, like “You are mine and nothing can snatch you out of my hand.“ It is trusting that God is present in Word and water and bread and wine with forgiveness and new life. It may even be asking God how to use a bumper crop – however that corresponds to our lives today. The world may call those questions foolish, but it will give us riches we cannot imagine, because we live in the promises of a faithful God, who revealed himself in the selfless life and sacrificial death of our Savior. To him be all glory and honor forever. AMEN.