Hinge Verses--Luke 12:19-21
In our scripture reading today, Jesus has just left the company of a Pharisee who had invited Jesus to eat with him. A crowd of MANY THOUSANDS assembled and were trampling over each other. Yet, Jesus managed to keep his focus on teaching His disciples the danger of those around them. With that many people aware of their location and mission, there must have been threats to them, and Jesus taught them their value, what to fear, who to trust.
A man from this crowd of thousands calls out, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." (He DID NOT understand the assignment.) Jesus is not there to settle disputes, yet in His kindness, He does address the root of this man's problem--Greed. Then as is His way, Jesus doubles down on the lesson by telling a story meant to illustrate the truth He's conveying.
A rich man has land that was producing more than he could use. So he said he would just tear down his barns and build bigger ones, giving him plenty of room to store all he has accumulated. Then he will pat himself on the back, have a seat with his food and drink, and relish all he's accomplished.
"BUT GOD said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you'll. And the things you have prepared--whose will they be?"
Jesus turns back to His disciples to teach them the meaning of what He just said. Don't worry about what you have; look around and trust God; seek HIS kingdom, and everything else will work out. Your heart is a check engine light for what is important to you. Only work that is for the kingdom can last forever.
William Borden was born in 1887 in Illinois to a family who had made their millions mining silver. William's mother converted to Christianity in 1894 and took William and his siblings to church at Chicago Avenue Church. Under the pastor's preaching, William accepted Christ and from then on his life was changed. When William graduated from high school at 16, his parents graduation gift was a trip around the world. (Millionaires, am I right?) It was during this trip that William felt called to be a foreign missionary. He found himself in London during his travels, where his pastor was holding meetings, and it was there William surrendered his life to ministry.
William graduated from Yale, and then Princeton Theological Seminary. William intended to be a missionary to the muslims in China, so he moved to Cairo, Egypt and in with a Syrian family, so he could learn as much about Islam as he could, and hear Arabic as often as he could. Shortly after he arrived in Egypt, he contracted cerebral meningitis and died three weeks later. He was buried in Cairo and this is his tombstone--
William never made it to the mission field. Much like the man in our scripture reading, William's life was demanded of him in a seemingly untimely manner. Unlike the man in our scripture reading, William was prepared to live and die according to the plans God had for him. Instead of "You fool",--according to Scripture--William would have heard "Well done, good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21
Two men, different treasures. Jesus said "BUT GOD", calling Him Theos, Creator and Owner of all things. The rich fool thought he owned all things, and created his own destiny. But William gladly gave up all he had to pursue Christ and his calling. A phrase that William is reputed to have written in his Bible (The Bible was reportedly given to his mother, but was never found) regarding his life's decisions as a young millionaire who died pursuing God's Will---
No Reserves.
No Retreats.
No Regrets.
Oh, But God..
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