August 3, 2025
Karen Eller
Luke 12:13-21
Here we have a photo I took of my friend’s hay shed. She runs a sheep farm but also grows hay to feed the sheep. My friend will ask herself, “How much will we need to keep? Can we afford to sell any?” And when drought hit New South Wales, “How much could we share with farmers who have no feed, and no local supplies?” Most of us are faced with similar questions, how much is enough?
It is my observation that in times of crisis, we do step up, as did my friend up north, to share what we can.
I expect we all remember where we were on Ash Wednesday. I certainly do! I was home from university, in my home town of Terang in Western Victoria. Fires had raged out of control west of town through Garvoc, Panmure, The Sisters and Framlingham, devouring homes, properties, and livestock, and came very close to the western edge of town. A local photographer died, families we knew were displaced, the losses were immense. My dad was asked if the community could use our disused church as a collection point for people impacted by the fires. That was a no-brainer – and before long businesses and members of the community were dropping off clothes, food, rakes, shovels, blankets and all sorts of things to help people adjust to their new circumstances. Locals volunteered to distribute goods, and many were able to draw on these resources in their time of need. Through the giving and the receiving, through the stepped-up level of compassion and kindness, it felt like our little town had shown itself to be more connected and compassionate that we ever knew.
Of the Gospel writers, Luke is the one most attentive to the foolishness of greed, and the importance of sharing resources for the health and well-being of community.
The lesson begins with Luke recalling a brother demanding that Jesus step in as arbiter between he and his brother, both obsessed with the possessions of their father’s inheritance. However, Jesus has no interest in the brothers’ squabble over possessions, but instead tells a parable.
A farmer has been blessed with an abundant yield, more than his barns can hold. The farmer is under the illusion that if he can build bigger barns, and store up his surplus, then his future will be secure.
But as we probably have already figured out, storing up assets is no guarantee of a secure future. The illustration that Jesus uses sees the farmer die that very night.
Luke then recalls Jesus’ teaching, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens…” (Luke 12:22-23)
Luke probably has in mind his own community, likely a community with some wealthy patrons, contributing to supporting members of the community with lesser means. We wonder if some are wanting to keep resources for themselves while others go hungry.
While we were in the Northern Territory, we had the privilege of visiting a town on Bathurst Island. Our guide observed that community well-being was impacted by some having good salaries. Rather than share their resources in the former ways, such as sharing a buffalo kill, or a big catch of fish, a person on a salary would be inclined to keep it for themselves, perhaps buy a car, new TV, things we take for granted here. Community cohesion was deteriorating due to the unequal distribution of resources.
Sociology research has shown that the greater the inequalities in a community, the greater the community discontent, which in turn fosters unsociable behaviors, theft and violence.
I think Jesus, as a prophet of his time, understood how communities thrive when resources are shared. For Jesus, the kingdom of God is the outworking of God’s people living together in harmony, where greed and hoarding do not exist, but resources are shared equitably.
And it’s not just financial and practical resources that we are blessed with. God blesses us with a diversity of gifts, not to be kept for ourselves, but for the sharing amongst community. Our musicians share their gifts for the enjoyment of all. People who are good with figures share their skills in accounting for the benefit of the community. Our cooks are the backbone of the hospitality we can offer here. Amongst us we have all manner of gifts, for the sharing amongst the community for the benefit of the whole.
Jesus, as remembered by Luke encourages his us to share what we have for the well-being of all.