This passage is only Lukan.
The scripture seems to be telling us – that with every step toward Jerusalem, the “Jesus Movement” seemed to be gaining momentum.
It’s like the crowds were “ever-growing.” Those crowds were now numbering in the thousands.
Jesus was teaching. And as he taught, someone in the crowd asked a question.
They usually did.
You were almost expected to question the teacher…especially if he were a popular one.
It made points for “you” and points for “him”, “if” the crowd “liked” his answers.
So, Jesus “expected” questions to come.
But this questioner had “an agenda.” He came looking for Jesus “to favor him.” He hoped to get “an economic advantage” by his question.
He was attempting to play “one-ups-man-ship” with his older brother. He wanted money.
He desired more than “his fair share.”
He was looking for “monetary gain…”
And he was hoping that Jesus would be “the man” to get it for him.
But, Jesus refused to “bite.”
He refused to decide, he refused to arbitrate, he refused to judge. There were laws already in place.
Well known laws, tried and true. Laws of Moses…You don’t mess with that stuff!
So being the ever-vigilant-on-his-toes-rabbi, Jesus decided it was time for a little lesson on “GREED.”
Hopefully the man who had asked the question would see himself – as being “the greedy one.”
Hopefully people in the massive crowd “could relate,” as well.
So, he “went for it.”
Not that any of us, seated or standing here could use a word about GREED – or about our accumulation of THINGS…
A European visitor summed up with “a certain amount of amazement” the “insatiable drive for consumption” that he witnessed on a trip to the United States:
He actually wrote that Americans, “Cleave to the things of this world as if assured that they will never die…and yet are in such a rush to snatch “any that come within their reach,” as if expecting to stop living before they have relished them.”
They clutch EVERYTHING but hold fast to NOTHING, and so lose grip as they hurry after some new DELIGHT.”
You have to admit it does sound like “some people.” We always want the next big thing. The newest, the latest, the must have…the greatest…
So when did this European come to the good old US of A?
Did he make his trip here during the DOT COM boom of the late 1990’s in Silicon Valley?
Or was he present during the Reagan-inspired “GREED IS GOOD” Wall Street run of the mid-1980’s?
Or was that a Post-World War II trip – with all the prosperity that followed along with the MADISON AVENUE HEYDAY of the 1950’s?
Or maybe the visit occurred during the “EXPANSIVENESS” of the Roaring Twenties?
Sorry, that would be the wrong century!
The famous Frenchman who penned those words visited America in the 1830’s…
Long before the time when Ivory Soap floated in a bathtub…
Long before Tony the Tiger growled his first GGGGRRRRREEEEAAAAATTTT!
Long before Mickey D’s had served even one of those billions and billions of burgers…let alone, cranked out its first “Happy Meal.”
Those words were written long before the Pepsi Generation existed!
His words merely show and illustrate the phenomenon of “rampant American Consumerism.” We want stuff!
Yep, it’s always been a part of us…and who we are.
We have always desired something different, something nicer, something bigger, something better, something prettier.
There is a word for that. And probably an “AP” as well! It’s called, “GREED!”
It’s time to do a little sharing, a little caring, a little cleaning out and to give it to someone who will actually use…half the stuff…that we just store away, hide- away and do not use anyway.
It’s TIME! Amen…