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November 16, 2008
Taken From: Luke 12:13-21
Illustration by Grace Ellen Schiel
Consider the standard of living,
the world full of good things
the creator’s exuberant generosity.
Contemplate the vulnerability to greed,
a virus in the blood
interpreting riches as something
we deserve and ought to have.
Ponder the reasoning: we have so much
but there’s so much more to have, to use.
Though we have more than most,
more than we could ever really need,
we pursue even more, eager to obtain
the newest thing
the best available.
We build bigger barns to make room,
the more to have, to hold.
the world full of good things
the creator’s exuberant generosity.
Contemplate the vulnerability to greed,
a virus in the blood
interpreting riches as something
we deserve and ought to have.
Ponder the reasoning: we have so much
but there’s so much more to have, to use.
Though we have more than most,
more than we could ever really need,
we pursue even more, eager to obtain
the newest thing
the best available.
We build bigger barns to make room,
the more to have, to hold.
Remember the heart once
filled with Jesus,
the interior life, lavish, blessed,
a cup running over,
now divided, halved and quartered
by desire
looking for more
in the pattern of the American way,
the accumulation of stuff;
a focus on exterior values
to the neglect of the soul.
DAS
Author Profile: Born and raised in Montgomery County, Texas, Pastor Dan Schiel was called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ at age 20 and has served as pastor in independent churches for over forty years. He is the founding pastor of Christ Church (founded 1977). 