Ecclesiastes 1:12–14, 2:1–7, 11, 18–13

Psalm 49:1–11

Colossians 3:5–17

LUKE 12:13–21

August 5, 2007 – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

When I was in Second Grade, my favorite storybook was a Hungarian folktale about a collection of worn–out and bedraggled toys which were offered the opportunity to be magically transformed, to become once again “as good as new.” There was only one catch: each toy had to say “enough” when it wanted the transformation to stop. And each toy had only one chance to be transformed – it could not ask for a second dose of magic if it didn’t like the results.

Toy after toy stepped up and was dramatically transformed – and knew when to say “enough.” But there was one particularly proud toy soldier who became so fond of how he looked as his uniform became shiny, his arms and legs mended, and his chest puffed up that he forgot to say “enough” – until after his chest had stuck out so much that a button popped off his otherwise perfect uniform.

Hurriedly, he said “enough,” but it was too late. It was done. And he was fated forever to go around with his chest puffed out to an absurd level, and with one button popped off his uniform, a walking monument to his own vanity.

America today has forgotten the meaning of “enough.”

American today is in the midst of one of its periodic binges of self–indulgence, with Congress giving away a trillion dollars the government does not yet have, primarily to fatten the wallets of the richest 10% of the population. Next, Congress will consider allowing people to invest some of their social security taxes into stocks (an especially terrific idea in view of the last year’s stock market history) at the cost of delayed retirement and reduced guaranteed benefits.

Meanwhile, gambling (legal and illegal) has never been more popular and glorified, salaries of professional athletes and entertainers soar to evermore ridiculous levels, and quiz shows and so–called “reality” shows with million dollar prizes win huge audiences.

Really, if CBS wants to have a truly gripping and challenging series of “Survivor” episodes, it should collect contestants who will see which single mother will be able to provide for her family longest while holding down one minimum wage job. It should be a short series – but it would truly be reality programming.

The Book of Ecclesiastes is the most depressing book in the Bible; I often wonder how it “made the cut,” offering, as it is, little in the way of faith or hope. But today’s passage in its diagnosis, at least, is right on the mark. The author writes as one who has experienced great worldly success, raking in power and wealth in abundance, after which he concludes “All is vanity and a chasing after wind.”

St. Paul in today’s Epistle warns the Colossians that they must “put off the ‘clothing’ associated with the ‘old life,’ including that of ‘greed (which is idolatry).’” Greed indeed turns biblical values upside down. With biblical values, God is the highest value and peoples’ first priority, followed by people, followed by things, followed by symbols of things (of which money is the most obvious). Paper money, for example, unless it is accepted in trade for something of real value – food, clothing, housing, someone’s time, etc. – is valuable only for toilet paper, and it is not of high quality at that!

Greed makes people turn the list of values upside down, putting symbols of things (money) at the top, things second, people third and God last. The greedy person literally idolizes money – makes it that which he or she worships. The greedy person thinks that money can buy things, money can buy people, and money can buy God, so all they need is more and more money.

I wonder how greedy people plan to spend their fortunes in Hell.

This is the powerful point of Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel. The “rich fool” has a terrific year, and all he can think about is adding to his ability to hoard his wealth and put his feet up. He gives no thought to sharing with the poor, improving the world around him or offering thanks to God. But his personal Judgment Day comes that night: his death.

Lest anyone think this was just a freak, offhand remark by Jesus, ponder this: Jesus spoke more about our relationship to our possessions than about Heaven, Hell and the Sacraments combined. One third of Jesus’ parables and one sixth of all his words recorded in the New Testament had to do with peoples’ relationships to their possessions.

Stewardship in the broadest sense was a dominant theme of Jesus’ preaching – and of his life. The greatest one sentence summary of the Gospel, after all, is John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, to the end that all who believe in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

God gave so that we could have eternal life. What is really worth having cannot be obtained by greed – in fact greed may block the way to it. If our hands are busy grabbing, they cannot be open to receive God’s gifts.

So let us remember that the best gifts of all are God’s gifts to us: God’s love, the hope of salvation, our own selves and abilities, the love of others. These cannot be bought for any price.

Let us resist the tidal pull of greed, boosted as it is by the forces of American commercialism, competitiveness and any insecurities we may have.

Let us order our lives, and our finances, to make our possessions serve us, those we love, other human beings, all creatures great and small, and God, and not call on ourselves and all others to serve our possessions.

Let us discipline ourselves to give to charity systematically and significantly both now and in our estate planning.

Let us preach the liberating Gospel of “enough” to those who feel defeated every time the forces of greed move the goal line another 20 yards further downfield. Let us not risk going through eternity with our chests puffed out with pride and a button missing. Let us remember to say “enough”.

(The Rev.) Francis A. Hubbard

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
Monmouth Junction, NJ