It was Star Trek: The Next Generation that made the quote “He who dies with the most toys, wins” famous.[1] Like so many television productions it set out to make a statement regarding a rampantly destructive societal oddity--specifically on this occasion--consumerism.
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The following story is about a man who had everything; materially rich and a person of material means, he never thought that his plans for selfish expansion with no thought of what he could do to help others might end in his swift destruction. He thought not of his inherent destiny; we all die. This is what God had to say:
The following story is about a man who had everything; materially rich and a person of material means, he never thought that his plans for selfish expansion with no thought of what he could do to help others might end in his swift destruction. He thought not of his inherent destiny; we all die. This is what God had to say:
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“God said to [the rich man], ‘You fool! This very night your life [literally ‘soul’ or ‘life-force’] will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“God said to [the rich man], ‘You fool! This very night your life [literally ‘soul’ or ‘life-force’] will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
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“This is how it will be with those who stores up things for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
“This is how it will be with those who stores up things for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
-Luke 12:20-21 (TNIV)
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Isn’t it ironic that someone else ended with this man’s riches; and it probably went to someone a lot kinder to boot. It reminds me of the proverb: “Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.” Again, “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” Yet a third... “Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.”[2]
Isn’t it ironic that someone else ended with this man’s riches; and it probably went to someone a lot kinder to boot. It reminds me of the proverb: “Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.” Again, “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” Yet a third... “Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.”[2]
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Our life objective could otherwise read, “Carpe diem--seize the day!” It would certainly make more sense. Who can tell when his or her last breath has been taken? Given that thought, of our imminent worldly demise, what could you do right now to choose life; for yourself and for others?
Our life objective could otherwise read, “Carpe diem--seize the day!” It would certainly make more sense. Who can tell when his or her last breath has been taken? Given that thought, of our imminent worldly demise, what could you do right now to choose life; for yourself and for others?
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Look at those around us. What we do for the least of these we’ve done for God[3]--we’ve been rich toward him. Wisdom says, “whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.’[4] So it is with those who’ve been rich toward God.
Look at those around us. What we do for the least of these we’ve done for God[3]--we’ve been rich toward him. Wisdom says, “whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.’[4] So it is with those who’ve been rich toward God.
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The things of God are eternal yet unseen, whereas ‘stuff’ and toys, whilst seen, are temporary. In the context of life they’re insignificant unless they’re used for God’s purposes. We’re to throw off the shackles of greed, ‘guarding ourselves’[5] from becoming polluted by the ever-present Western material world. We must surely know “that greed and the pursuit of possessions constitute one of the greatest obstacles to spiritual growth.”[6] “True wealth is only accumulated when one has God in mind in the use of one’s economic means.”[7]
The things of God are eternal yet unseen, whereas ‘stuff’ and toys, whilst seen, are temporary. In the context of life they’re insignificant unless they’re used for God’s purposes. We’re to throw off the shackles of greed, ‘guarding ourselves’[5] from becoming polluted by the ever-present Western material world. We must surely know “that greed and the pursuit of possessions constitute one of the greatest obstacles to spiritual growth.”[6] “True wealth is only accumulated when one has God in mind in the use of one’s economic means.”[7]
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Things might be actually going swimmingly for us; life might be grand. But we never know when it will all be over. Time vanishes. How are we using our material possessions and the wealth we have? Are we using it wisely, ‘treasuring up’ (Greek: thasaurizon)[8] our resources for those we could assist? What legacy are we leaving behind assuming today is it and all we have?
Things might be actually going swimmingly for us; life might be grand. But we never know when it will all be over. Time vanishes. How are we using our material possessions and the wealth we have? Are we using it wisely, ‘treasuring up’ (Greek: thasaurizon)[8] our resources for those we could assist? What legacy are we leaving behind assuming today is it and all we have?
That is the reality; it’s the nature of life.
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Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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I would like to acknowledge the spirited and anointed sermon of Ps. Johan de Swart’s at Mandurah Baptist Church, Western Australia, on 28 September 2008 which inspired this article.
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I would like to acknowledge the spirited and anointed sermon of Ps. Johan de Swart’s at Mandurah Baptist Church, Western Australia, on 28 September 2008 which inspired this article.
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ENDNOTES:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Toys_(TNG_episode)
[2] Proverbs 28:8, 22:9, 28:27 respectively; all from the Today’s New International Version (TNIV).
[3] See Matthew 25:40, 45; Luke 9:48.
[4] See Proverbs 1:33 (TNIV).
[5] Leon Morris, Luke – Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Revised Edition (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1974, 1988), p. 232.
[6] Darrell L. Bock, Luke – The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, Illinois, 1994), p. 224.
[7] John Nolland, Luke 9:21-18:34 - Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas, Texas: Word, Incorporated, 2002 (Word Biblical Commentary 35B), S. 684.
[8] John Nolland, Ibid, S. 687.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Toys_(TNG_episode)
[2] Proverbs 28:8, 22:9, 28:27 respectively; all from the Today’s New International Version (TNIV).
[3] See Matthew 25:40, 45; Luke 9:48.
[4] See Proverbs 1:33 (TNIV).
[5] Leon Morris, Luke – Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Revised Edition (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1974, 1988), p. 232.
[6] Darrell L. Bock, Luke – The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, Illinois, 1994), p. 224.
[7] John Nolland, Luke 9:21-18:34 - Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas, Texas: Word, Incorporated, 2002 (Word Biblical Commentary 35B), S. 684.
[8] John Nolland, Ibid, S. 687.
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