Dear Rehoboth,

                Usually, I like to make things more complicated then they appear. My usual goal is to try and draw something out that may not be on the surface so that we can gain a deeper understanding of the passage. This week I’m not sure I have a deeper meaning. Since it is communion Sunday, I can be brief, and I am glad because the parable of the man with too much grain for his small barn is a pretty simple message. What I mean is Jesus gives us the meaning of the parable. It’s about the way we value ourselves, which, in a way, leads to greed. Why are people greedy? I think we are greedy when we think that we need more and more in order to find value in this life. I need more money so that people will know I matter. I need more friends, so people will know I’m popular. I need more clients at work. I need more of the boss’s time. Do I need more people at church? Maybe. We get greedy because we believe that by having more we will find our value. When we know our worth, I think we are more ok with having enough to survive. When we know that our lives aren’t measured by the amount of stuff we have, we don’t feel the need to be greedy. This whole parable is about where we find our worth in this world.

                The man with his overflowing barn wants to keep all the grains to himself. If he builds the biggest barn in the neighborhood, then people will know he made it in life. If he has enough food stored up that he can relax, then the world will know he is important and successful. This infatuation with material objects, in turn, leads to us looking at only ourselves. Notice how many times in the parable, the man uses personal pronouns. All he can talk about is himself. And what this decision will do for him. He doesn’t even think about anyone else. That is the message this week. Do we allow our desire to find worth in this world distract us from others? Jesus gospel message has a been a movement from “me” to “we.” That is where we find our value in this world. By being a blessing unto others. By being able to use our blessings to bless others.

                I said the message was simple, but the application is hard. Where do you find your worth in this world? What things are you striving towards? And once you have found that thing, ask how many times you used the words “I,” “Me,” “Myself.” Jesus is calling us to avoid all sorts of greed because greed makes us forget that our value is not found in this world, and it forces us to forget about the community. I’m not sure what more I have to say on this passage because what I hear in this passage is a call for us to remember our worth and the worth of others. So maybe ponder with me this week, what effect do greed play in your life and the life of the church? Maybe also we should ponder together what desire are we as a church making that is focused on “us” and not everyone. When have we as a church used to many personal pronouns?

                Thank you for letting me ramble, and I hope to hear what you are thinking.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Lee

Week of August 4, 2019