“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:20-21
This is the hard part. This is the truth we hold at arm’s length as long as we can. Eventually our lives are demanded of all of us, and there will be a reckoning. While we are saved by God’s grace and not by our own actions, there will be an accounting of what we did with the gifts we were given.
We aren’t aware of the farmer in this parable causing harm to anyone. He isn’t reported using his wealth for evil, but neither is it said that he did good things for others. He spoke only of himself and his own comfort. Not being aware of the needs of others and using our gifts as we are called to do is the teaching against sin in this lesson.
A frequent statement in our world, “I didn’t do anything wrong”, is one that tries to absolve us of responsibility. God isn’t so much interested in what we do wrong but what we do right. If the answer is “not much”, our lack of wrongdoing is not much of an accomplishment. We must accept both the gifts and the responsibility God gives us to be ready for that day when our lives are demanded of us.
Heavenly Father, make us aware of our responsibility to do Your will, to love others as we love ourselves. Help us to use Your gifts for the good of the whole world. Amen.