All Consuming Control

Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

“Friend,” he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”

Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’

“That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:13-21 (CSB)

This text immediately precedes the one about not worrying about one’s life. It is one of many other good passages that we won’t be looking at it though this period but it bears impressing in our mind as it is the conclusion to this one. 

When do we worry? We worry when we are out of control. Worry is our mind’s attempt to control circumstances with our mind, which saps our energy, our attention, our focus, and our ability to love. 

Ever been up late mulling over a thought in your head, again and again? Has mulling it over changed the event that happened, or what is going to happen? Or has it simply depleted your sleep?

This worry is really what greed is about. It’s about control. Storing up your treasures, building up your nest egg, trying to maximize your bank account. Money itself is control. We want it because we get to do what we want when we have it. Greed is an outsized desire for control.

And, in order to get it, we’ll fight, cheat, steal, or sacrifice other important life events. Like the instance in today’s text, many have seen or been a part of families split over inheritance — more worried about money than relationships. 

Here’s a little secret: Life goes fast. Way faster than most realize. And, you really won’t care about what color sofa you purchased, or where you purchased it from in the end. These things rarely matter. That’s not what lasts. 

Money gives us the illusion of control, but it’s fleeting. And that control prevents us from trusting, which is where faith and love emerge.  This is partially why Jesus says the ones who really get it, are the ones who have no money at all (Matthew 5:3,6). Why? Because they have no control, and therefore all they have left is to trust.

It’s a reminder that the things of God’s Kingdom are the only things that will survive death. Those relationships you’ve built and how well you love are the markers of the new world, and they will be something with which we are confronted in the end. What did you do with what you were given? Did you surrender, and learn to love, or did you spend most of your time trying to build your 401k? 

What preoccupies you the most? And are they eternal things, or are they passing away?