The Sermon for August 5 @ Plymouth Church

In Luke 12:13-21, the Parable of the Rich Farmer Jesus uses this story to encourage his listeners to be “Rich Toward God" which is the central theme of the sermon:

Our world, or at least our California culture, seems preoccupied with getting rich. I say this because over the past few years the “gaming” industry has grown by leaps and bounds. Casino advertising has those enticing pictures of folks winning large sums, or of folks saying that they won “big” in one casino or another. Greed drives many a problem in our culture, and it can create many a problem for those drawn into its power. Comedian Jack Benny who pretended to be a tightwad, holding on to his money at all costs, had a humorous skit. The would-be robber would step out with a gun and say, “Your money or your life.” There would be a long silence and the gunman would say, “O.K. what’s it going to be?” Benny would say, “don’t rush me, don't rush me, I’m thinking”. 

This parable Jesus told had a point worth pondering -- To confuse possessions with self, with soul, to take life for granted, is utter foolishness. He sums it up in these few words: "So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves who are not rich toward God."

One doesn’t have to be a farmer to get the point of this parable. While couched in farming language, it isn't at all about farming. It is drawing a distinction between poverty of the soul and richness toward God. The poverty of the soul is called "foolishness" and the parable challenges us to search for ways to become "rich toward God."

In order to explore this contrast, we can profit from an understanding of the word "fool" translated into our language from the Greek. Ancient Koinea Greek was a rich language, containing words that show delicate but important differences in meaning. There are three different Greek words that get crammed into one english word, "love." "Philos" brotherly love, "Eros" love between a man and woman, and "Agapa", active good will, genuine caring about all. Well, there are four Greek words that can be translated "fool", but each with a nuance of difference. "Anoetes" which means "mindless"; "Asophos" is literally, "without wisdom"; "Moros" is the root word of our English word, "moron" which can also be translated "fool". But the Greek word, "Aphrom" which appears in the Gospel text today, and is translated "fool" carries the nuance, "without spirit" or "without a thinking mind". Since this is a parable of contrasts, and it shows why the farmer is called "foolish", we need to deduce from it that which would have made him "rich before God". That, after all, said Jesus, is the kind of wealth that really matters. Attaining this kind of wealth involves deliberate choices. What are the choices that all ordinary people can make that will render them "Rich Toward God"?

Join us at Plymouth for this reflection, and for Holy Communion on the first Sunday of the month. Pastor Wayne Riggs is always glad to talk back to the hearer who might have comments or questions.

Why not email Pastor Riggs today at riggsaw@earthlink.net