Luke 12:13-21; 2 Corinthians
9:6-15; Deuteronomy 8:1-10
In the Name of the Father and of the
+ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Today is a day to give thanks to God for
His providence. But, “Shouldn’t we give thanks to God every day?” you
ask. Yes, of course we should; but we don’t. Thus, we should be thankful that
our nation has set aside this one day each year when we collectively rest from
our labors – well, most of us – and give thanks for food, for clothing, for
shelter, for family, and for all things, to a higher power, however he, she,
they, or it might be defined. Truly, we need this day of thanksgiving to get us
to cease for a moment in our striving to carve out our own piece of the
American dream and to gain our independence and self-sufficiency, to look
outside of ourselves to our God, who lovingly provides us all that we need to
sustain our bodies and lives, by no merit or worthiness in us, but because of
His own Fatherly, divine goodness and mercy.
We get so wrapped up in the notion of
earning a wage by our own works and labor so that we can buy food and shelter
and all the necessities and pleasures of life that we seldom stop to think
about the source of all these things. Most likely, whether we think about it or
not, we consider ourselves to be the source. This begs the question, “Who,
then, is our god?” That is what the man in Jesus’ parable believed. He had
stored up a great wealth of grain, more than he could possibly use. He said to
himself, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat,
drink, be merry.” From his perspective, the labor was his and the harvest
was his. He had done his work, and in his work he trusted. Why not then kick
back and have a drink to himself, his labor, and self-merit? But, the God who
gave him the grain and his goods, the God who gave him his life and breath,
required it of him that very night. And when the man was dead, what do you
think became of his storehouses of grain? Did they not spoil and decay? Were
they not eaten by insect and vermin? In the end, not only did they not benefit
the rich man, but they benefitted no man.
The truth is that we are stewards,
managers of God’s creation. When we give Him thanks we acknowledge this truth;
we fear, love, and trust in Him alone as God. He lovingly provides us with all
that we need, and more, with which we can serve our brother and our neighbor in
his need. Our heavenly Father wants us to sow bountifully, and so reap
bountifully. There is no need to be stingy or selfish, for we sow, we give,
only of what belongs to Him. And, you cannot be compelled or forced to give,
but you must give freely from your heart, in cheerfulness, without resentment. For,
by giving to others, you acknowledge the Lord to be God, and your neighbor,
too, may turn in thankfulness to the God who provides for His children. And,
since your heavenly Father knows what you need, and graciously provides you
what you need, you do not need to be anxious or worrying, and you do not need
to covet what belongs to your brother and your neighbor. For, with faith comes
comfort, peace, and contentment. Through faith in Christ you lack nothing;
therefore, give thanks for what you have, and give thanks for what your brother
and your neighbor have. Your life does not consist in the abundance of your
possessions. However, misplaced fear, love, and trust in possessions can cause
them to possess you. Therefore, lay up your treasures in heaven, and not on
earth, for the one who lays up treasure for himself cannot be rich toward God.
There is an interesting corollary
between the beginning of the Lenten season and the observance of our National
Day of Thanksgiving. Everyone knows how New Orleans celebrates the beginning of
Lent by gorging in all manner of lasciviousness the day before known as Mardi
Gras or Fat Tuesday – Let’s relax, eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we
fast and die. However, do we not go a step further at Thanksgiving? Indeed,
we gorge ourselves into a stupor on Turkey Day, and then we go insane for
twenty-four hours (or more) and bow down and worship the god of commercialism,
ironically, in the name of Jesus. This year, more stores than ever before will
be open, not only at four in the morning on Black Friday, but they will open
their doors as early as 4:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day! Truly, wherever a church
is built for God, there the devil builds a chapel next door.
Covetousness, greed, selfishness, these
are the fruits of self-righteousness, which itself is a fruit of unbelief and
idolatry. We are at risk of bowing down to the false gods of commercialism and
materialism every day, but perhaps never as much as the so-called holiday
season. Indeed, our culture, our neighbors, our friends, and even our family
and children place pressures upon us to buy, to consume, to acquire, and to
amass stuff, and things – idols; even the secular media and the government tell
you that it is patriotic and responsible citizenship to buy, buy, buy so that
our nation’s economy will recover. Do not listen to that whispering voice. But,
give thanks to the Lord in all things, at all times, and in all places, for He
knows your needs, and He graciously provides you all things needful. And, when
your brother or your neighbor has a need that you can satisfy, give it to him,
freely, with cheer – Your Lord will generously replace what you give. He will
always give you more than you need, that you may freely give to others and
glorify Him.
Even now He is present in this Holy
Eucharist, which means thanksgiving, to give you forgiveness anew,
eternal life, and salvation in Jesus Christ. Come, and give thanks to the Lord
who is here for you; come, and give thanks to the Lord by receiving Him into
your body and soul. When the Lord is your treasure, then you are truly rich,
and you will have all that is needful for eternal life. Trust in Him, for He
provides you all you need for life in this world as well.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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