Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Rev Mark Duer
Luke 12:13-21
August 3, 2025
15And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Those words ring so true, even today the world is more obsessed than ever before with material things. People are not happy with what they have (or don’t have). It seems like the more material things they have, the more they want.
In today’s gospel as large crowds were gathered together, a man from the crowd asked Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus doesn't answer the way this person was expecting, but he responds: “Who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
Jesus then tells a parable about a man who had abundant possessions and his crops were plentiful. The man in the parable acts on the basis of his greedy heart.
He isn’t content with the amount of storage in his barns, because it’s not enough, so he tears them down and builds bigger storage barns, so he can store even more goods.
If that isn't enough, the man goes so far as to congratulate himself on the wisdom of his plan. Verse 19: “‘And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’”
Before he can rest in his self-pronounced security, the Lord says to him in verse 20-21: “‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
In the Old Testament reading for today, Solomon tells us that the significant things of this life can become idols that will pass away and provide no lasting value.
Solomon built houses and had many vineyards; he had gardens and parks. He had a great number of herds and flocks, more than anyone before him, and he had more gold and silver than anyone before him.
He had numerous wives and concubines. He did whatever his heart desired and kept his heart from no pleasure.
Ecclesiastes 2:11 “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”
King Solomon examines his labors for some lasting profit. He ponders what is left when his life is over. Everything for which he has labored becomes the possession of another.
In the Large Catechism, in the first commandment, Luther writes: “What does it mean to have a god? or, what is God? Answer: If your faith and trust be right, then is your god also true; and, on the other hand, if your trust be false and wrong, then you have not the true God; for these two belong together, faith and God. That now, I say, upon which you set your heart and put your trust is properly your god.”
In today's gospel, the rich man was so concerned with gaining the whole world that he losses himself and suffers loss. He is a fool because the possessions he had during his life are now meaningless.
Matthew 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?”
We often hear the words of Christ, particularly in the Gospel for this morning, and just like this man, did we blindly fall into the same hypocritical trap.
We may not think that we have idols, and that we have all our priorities right. But we too are guilty of being covetous like the man in today’s gospel.
You may not want to ‘fess up and own up to some of those sinful skeletons of yours, but you know the truth…and so does God. Nothing is covered over and hidden that will not be revealed.
Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you truly fear, love, and trust in God above all things. That’s what this whole discourse of Luke chapter twelve is all about.
It’s easy to say that we humbly trust in God above all things, but life has a way of showing us how sinfully vain and hypocritical we really are. God's Law tells us we are sinners, and that we are dead in our trespasses and sins.
As sinners we strive in vain after things that are empty and useless. We sin when we are more concerned with the pleasures in life and the possessions we have or desire.
We sin because we don’t take time to prioritize the important things in life—family, our health, our neighbors in need, or putting God’s Word as the most important thing in our life.
There are times when we reach that point in our lives where we sometimes struggle to make sense of our lives and our purpose. We strive after the wind. Life apart from the Lord is chasing something we cannot capture.
We have all strayed away from God. But now is the time to turn and repent. Turn around, and there you will find your loving Lord and Savior, arms wide open, waiting to receive you back into His fold, immediately and unconditionally.
Colossians 3:2-2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
You may be thinking that the “real” hypocrites aren’t in church to hear this; look in the mirror and ask yourself if you unconditionally love and forgive everyone, in the same was as like Christ so unconditionally and repeatedly loves and forgives you.
Thank God that He doesn’t treat us the same way we treat those whom He suffered and died for. Thank God that He doesn’t treat us the same way as we so often deny Him, and as we deny his Word and His undeserved gifts to us.
God gives all of us gifts. He gives us physical gifts such as our talents and abilities and he gives us material gifts, such as food, homes, and a job (vocation), to name a few.
Sometimes we turn these gifts into something that God did not intent them to be used for. As sinners these gifts can easily be corrupted and exploited for pleasure.
Luke 12:15, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
In the First Article of the Creed; What does this mean, Luther writes: I believe that God has made me and all creatures, he has given me by body, and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason, and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food, and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all that I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.”
But “Christ who is your life,” in giving you himself, gives you all the wealth of heaven. Instead of striving to lay up treasures for yourself, be “rich toward God” in him.
Toil and labor under the sun can drive one to the brink of grievous despair. The so-called significant things of this life can become idols and be vane that ultimately pass away and provide no lasting value.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”
Life has no meaning apart from God’s love in Christ Jesus. Faith worked in us by the power of the Holy Spirit brings meaning to life and the certainty of forgiveness, life, and salvation.
Our heavenly Father graciously provides all that we need for this temporal life and life everlasting through his Son, Jesus Christ. Amen