“And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool!…” Luke 12:19-20a
The man was wealthy and entrepreneurial, but he was a fool. Don’t get me wrong, the farmer knew his stuff. Before the above verses it said “The land of a rich man produced plentifully…” and he was shrewd enough to think through what it would take to store the crops.
He knew business, but he didn’t understand life. He was a fool.
He wasn’t a fool because he was wealthy. That’s not the point. He wasn’t a fool because he stored the food. That’s not a bad idea. (To be honest don’t we all want a stockpile of food right now?)
He was a fool because he convinced himself (his “soul”) that he was safe and also secure because of his wealth and his shrewdness. He did not (want to) recognize that his produce came from the Lord of all Creation and the Giver of all good things.
When we get to the heart of it, he wanted to be secure apart from the security that comes in relationship with God.
Its is addictive to read the freshest news report to find out about the societal damage the virus-that-shall-not-be-named is causing. The fear it brings with it is more infectious than the microscopic invader itself. The stock market fell (again!) today. If you have a 401k, it is worth significantly less today than it was worth 3 weeks ago. Small businesses and their employees are hurting already with mandatory shut downs.
And, to top it all off, it seems like toilet paper is so rare it will soon be used as currency.
But, I don’t have to tell you these things. You know them don’t you? You feel the uncertainty. We sleep lighter if we really get to sleep at all. The insecurity we feel is because what we find our security in (“Soul…relax, eat, drink, be merry”) is being taken from us.
Right now it seems that we are in the beginning of it all.
Though there is much more that Jesus says about this heart condition of seeking Soulish Security coming up, he pauses to make us ask the hard questions: Where do I find my security? Where does my heart go to find rest in uncertain times? What do I really put my trust in?
The rich farmer was not a fool because he wanted security and rest for his soul. He was a fool because he looked for that rest and security in barns that fall down and grain that will perish.
Jesus offers himself as the rest and security our souls need. So that we can confidently say to ourselves “Soul, you have a Father who has ample goods he loves to lavish on his children. Enough for the rest of your years. Rest in him. Eat his good gifts. Drink of his living water. Be joyful and secure!”
Though it doesn’t feel like it, our insecurity and uncertainty right now is a gift. A gift from a Good Father who is drawing us to real security in him.