JP57: Eat, Drink, And Be Merry: Contentment In An Age Of Excess

We’ve all spoken out of turn.  Like when I attended a military school designed to test mental and physical endurance. Surrounded by hungry peers, the craving for biscuits and gravy hit.  Instead of keeping the mental image of this comfort food to myself, I shared it with friends in the most untimely way.  It was embarrassing, exposing a self-focused heart instead of love for my friends.  

Jesus’ strategy of deploying his message of love among the people brought him in contact with a diverse group.   Like the following encounter, where Jesus addresses a man with an untimely request to settle a financial dispute.  

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (ESV, Lk 12:13–21)

Somehow, this man got Jesus all wrong.  Out of the blue, the man tells Jesus to act on his behalf in a family dispute over money, treating Jesus like a 1st-century ATM.  Jesus' response reveals the nature of the man's heart; full of desire for resources under his brother's control, lacking love for his brother - building his life on material wealth.

This encounter highlights four ways we can cultivate contentment in an age of excess, keeping our hearts light toward ourselves and heavy toward the needs of others.

Remember That Life Is Not Measured By Material Wealth

Our culture assigns human value to strange things.  But, beauty fades, success wanes, muscles atrophy, and wealth doesn't last beyond the grave.   We learn to rest in God's supply when we invest in people and causes that last.  This measure of value keeps us rich toward God, opening the door to heavenly supplies of contentment and eternal reward.  Investing in eternal things begins when we gather to give.

Gather To Give

In Jesus' parable, the rich man gathered to serve himself.  Instead of making his vast resources available to a world in need, he purposed to indulge himself.  His success was tremendous and ambition noteworthy, but his life course isolated him from the needs of his community, focusing only on the selfish desires of his heart.  He found his rest in earthly riches rather than eternal rewards.  What he thought provided rest only led him to lunge for more.

Rest Your Soul In God

When we rest our souls in God, we find a trustworthy supply that outlasts time.  Excess money and goods are a false substitute, and pursuing them leaves our souls destitute of proper nourishment.  The apostle Paul explains,

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (NIV, 1 Ti 6:6–10)

Paul reminds us that pursuing riches for riches' sake is a trap that leads to ruin, destruction, and grief.  Thankfully we can shift from building treasures on earth to building treasures in heaven.

Lay Up Treasure In Heaven

Finally, we shift our objective from personal gain to making gains for God's Kingdom.  Laying up treasure in heaven looks like investing in the needs of our community, creating environments where people can experience a loving community, and being content with less.  When we do so, we’ll find true nourishment for our souls, instead of biscuits and gravy.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love you.  Thank you for all of the ways you provide for my needs.  Teach me how to remain content while gathering to give to meet the needs of my neighbors and community.  Keep me from the false idol of riches and teach me in every way to store up treasure in heaven.

Questions for Application:

1. How does this passage challenge your current life goals?

2. In what ways have you been resting your soul in God substitutes?

3. Where can you invest what you’ve gathered?

Eat, Drink, And Be Merry: Contentment In An Age Of Excess

1. Remember That Life Is Not Measured By Material Wealth

But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ v.20

2. Gather To Give

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” v.15

3. Rest Your Soul In God

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV, Mt 11:28–30)

4. Lay Up Treasure In Heaven

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV, Mt 6:19–21)

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