Luke 12:13-21 (NRSV)
Read Luke 12:13-21 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." Verse 14But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" Verse 15And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Verse 16Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. Verse 17And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Verse 18Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. Verse 19And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' Verse 20But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' Verse 21So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."
Devotion
Why is it some have so much and others have so little? Why do some people live so long, and some lives are so short? Why does our society lack respect and compassion?
These are the kind of questions asked by disillusioned idealists. Answers don't come easy. Questions of conscience and faith guide our journey more often than expedient answers.
"Disillusioned idealists" describes vintage Christians, experiencing many disappointments and failings, our own and those of others. I guess disillusionment means we had some illusions regarding our expectations, which needed exposure to life's realities and truths. Once in a while, we see contentment among those who have little, and the burden of having too much. We might perceive a person's purpose was fulfilled, even if death came way before we were ready to let go. Society is made up of ourselves, too, so how we live and what we do makes a difference.
Prayer
Lord, before pointing the finger of blame toward others, remind us to examine ourselves first. Help us to not despair in our ideals, values and faith, but to live these out in Your name. Amen.