Sunday, September 28, 2025
Sunday Reflection: Riches
It is hard for ministers to talk about what Jesus taught about wealth. Their churches rely on the wealthy, and some in their pews-- in some churches-- are in possession of great wealth. I recently heard a sermon that offered no challenge whatsoever to those with wealth (unless you are Scrooge McDuck, whose name was invoked), and I found it disheartening.
This is what 1 Timothy 6 says:
There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so
that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires
that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in
their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with
many pains.
This message is consistent with so much that Jesus taught, where over and over he warned of the seductive dangers of riches.
And here is the deal: I am one of those people who needs to be challenged with this message. I have much more than most of the people in this world, largely out of luck and where I was born (and to whom). I was given an incredible education, and the opportunities that came with it. I need to constantly be challenged to engage with that issue.
In the Bible, when Jesus is done speaking the people are emotional. They are filled with joy, or angry, or deeply confused. When is the last time you felt any of those things walking out of church? My friend Randall O'Brien once said that great preaching comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. Perhaps some of you will receive that gift today.
