August 2019 – Page 2 – What Does This Mean?

Encore Post: “He meant well,” you explain when someone you love really makes a mess of things. He may have tried to do something good, but his actions just complicated an already bad situation. You may have defended your actions with similar words. “I was just trying to help,” you say. Sometimes we can convince others not to blame us or our friends when our actions end up hurting others. This kind of argument often works because we all would like to believe that people are good at heart. No one really wants to hurt others, we think. There must be a reason why someone does even evil things. Maybe they are poorly educated or have been harmed by others or grew up in a violent neighborhood. deep down we like to think of ourselves as good people.

Unfortunately, this is more fantasy than reality. From time to time, mass murderers or other criminals show this to us by committing horrible crimes, even though they grew up with every advantage in life. We study their lives, but we cannot find even a motive for their evil.

And even so, they are not alone. We also were born as sinners. (Psalm 51:5) Our hearts and minds were filled with evil thoughts. (Genesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21 , Mark 7:2-23 ). We were dead spiritually, caught up in the ways of this world, controlled by Satan. Down deep, we really didn’t even want God to save us. (Ephesians 2:1-3, Romans 3:9-18) We spent our lives, like the rest of the world, chasing whatever makes us feel good and entertains us. What we really deserve is God’s punishment and nothing we can do will change that.

Yes, we were spiritually dead, filled with sin. Yet God loved us anyway. So He sent His son to die in our place. On the cross, Jesus paid the full price for our salvation. So, our sins are forgiven, our guilt removed and the power that the world, the devil our flesh has over us was broken once and for all time.

Now, together with Jesus, he raised us from the dead, spiritually now, but literally on the last day. He did this, so where Jesus is, we will be also. All of this is because of his grace alone.

See also “So, does God hate me?”

How often do we hear that it is our God given right to have everything and more? How often are we told that over-abundance is a thing to strive for? We do not want to have to depend on anyone or anything. We want the American dream, the acres of land, the warm home, the children, and to be left the heck alone. We want to rest and be merry, eating and drinking without cares in the world. And so, we are told the lie that we need to fight and claw for everything we have and make sure that it can never be taken away. “Be on your guard,” says Jesus when he preaches the parable of the rich fool. Covetousness is idolatry. We become the gods we serve.

The rich man had won the game. He was the top dog in this dog eat dog world. Time to relax and be at peace. And we know the rest of the story. His soul would be required of him that very night. And what would become of all that he had collected on the earth?

And while possessions may not be something that gives you trouble, we covet the rest that we see others living in. We want strife to end in our families, etc. We want to eat drink, and be merry. However, more often than not, we find ourselves hungry, afraid, and alone. We covet peace.

Jesus says to be on our own guard. And we should take him to heart. But we should also take heart in his warning. In warning, Jesus shows how deeply he cares for us. He does not want anyone to forfeit the one thing that makes us rich towards God, namely Himself.

Jesus is the one thing that truly matters. He is the one who has won for you and then continues to give you the forgiveness of sins. He is the one who actually has procured rest for you. By His blessed passion and death, He is the one who has not only laid up for us treasure in heaven, but calls you to come to his feast to truly eat, drink, and be merry. So come to the feast thereby guarding yourself against all covetousness, valuing the richness of your Savior Jesus.

Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO

Month: August 2019

Everybody’s Good at Heart? Right?

The Rich Fool