Beyond accumulation A reading from Luke 12:13 21 on the Daily Bible refresh hello.

My friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.

This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.

In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.

The reading is understandable.

I use the Message version relatable.

Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.

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Here's today's reading from Luke 12:13 21.

Reading from the Message the Story of the Greedy Farmer Someone out in the crowd said, teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.

He replied, mister, what makes you think it's any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you speaking for the people?

He went on, take care.

Protect yourself against this least bit of greed.

Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.

Then he told them the story.

The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop and he talked to himself, what can I do?

My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.

Then he said, here's what I'll do.

I'll tear down my barns and I'll build bigger ones.

Then I'll gather in all the grain and all the goods and I'll say to myself, self, you've done well, you've got it made and can now retire, take it easy and have the time of your life.

Just then God showed up and said, fool, tonight you die and and your barn full of goods.

Who gets it?

That's what happens when you fill your barns with self and not with God.

Really a challenging and a poignant story here from from Luke that really challenges all our notions about wealth and possessions and I think it's pretty relevant in our consumer driven world that when we're in right right now, let's talk about some points to ponder.

The violence of wealth hoarding the rich farmers behavior building bigger barns while others likely struggled reflects modern wealth concentration among a few billionaires building large fortunes doing global crisis while others suffer.

The farmer's actions represent systemic violence against our communities.

And Jesus harsh response suggests that hoarding resources is not just unwise but morally wrong.

Second point to ponder is about individual success versus collective well being.

Notice how the farmer talks only to himself.

Kind of weird really, revealing a profound disconnection from the community.

His speech I'll say to myself self mirrors contemporary narcissistic individualistic capitalism where personal success is celebrated even when it comes at this at the expense of others, at the expense of the community.

This challenges to examine how success might actually represent failure in terms of the human condition.

A third point to ponder is about redefining security.

See the farmer is seeking security in his accumulated wealth.

That's a familiar impulse in our retirement focused culture.

But Jesus suggests that true security lies in building community resilience rather than personal stockpiles.

This has implications about how we think about everything from personal finance to climate justice.

Here's our action step.

Consider how you your own consider your personal relationship with excess in your life and choose an area where you have more than you that you what you need.

It might be clothing or food or I don't know, living space, money, anything.

You know what it is.

There are some areas where you got.

More than enough and create a plan to share.

Some people call this resource re district redistribution.

This isn't about charity but it's about restructuring your life towards thriving of the community.

A collective thriving if you will.

And so maybe consider joining or be a part of some resource sharing entity or network, a housing coalition, food bank, clothing closet, something a community, land trust, number of things that you can do to get involved with how sharing becomes a part of caring.

We're going to come back and have a prayer here in just a minute, but I did want to share with you that we have a great resource for you to have that's going to help you with your at home Bible study.

It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method and I really want to encourage you to head on over to the voiceofgoddaily.com that is the place where you can pick up this free resource just for you.

The ABC 123 Bible Study Method.

Let's have our closing prayer.

Oh God of abundance and justice.

We live in a world that teaches us to grasp and hoard.

Help us to recognize when we're building bigger barns while others lack basic needs.

Give us courage to imagine different ways of living with resources, ways that prioritize community well being over personal excess.

When we're tempted by false security of accumulation remind us that true wealth lies in relationship and shared flourishing.

Guide us toward choices that help create a world where no one has too much while others have too little.

Amen.

My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.

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My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.

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Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.

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Every morning.