Thorns.
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
~ Matthew 13:22
Last week we explored some of Jesus’ most challenging words about money. Do they challenge you as much as they do me? I think the trust message is the part we’re most ready for; most of us are weary of the anxiety that often accompanies finances. It’s Jesus’ actual view of money itself, though, that I wonder if we even hear, or if it’s been completely filtered out by our cultural values.
In my half century listening to thousands of sermons, I can’t recall one that ever directly challenged our obsession with money… or hinted that money was an impediment to the life of the kingdom. (Thankfully, I also never heard a sermon advocating the prosperity gospel!) Plenty of messages on stewardship—everyone likes the parable of the talents—but almost nothing on Jesus’ pervasively dim view of wealth and finance.
Indeed, those courageous souls who renounced earthly wealth to enter a monastic vocation are, at least in Protestant circles, seen in a humorous, almost comic, light. Those poor, uneducated folk who felt like they had to give up all their creature comforts in order to follow Christ. How sad. But honestly, I wonder if it’s the monks who get the last laugh, embracing the utter freedom that comes with such radical simplicity.
Of course I have to say, “I wonder” because I have no personal experience here. I haven’t renounced money. I have rarely sacrificed much in the way of comfort. What do I know of poverty?
Am I making you uncomfortable? I hope so. I’m certainly uncomfortable, and I think if we’re going to call ourselves Christ-followers, we have to come to terms with this (and many other) disruptive teachings from the mouth of Jesus. (Like total non-violence, for example, but that’s a topic for another day).
Jesus only told one guy (that we know of) to sell everything and give it all away. So that’s not what He is necessarily asking of us. But would we even consider such a preposterous idea if He did ask? Or maybe the invitation is less dramatic: Maybe it’s not to sell everything but just detach our affections from all our stuff. How does that land? Could I even be honest enough to assess my heart at this point?
I’ll conclude today by looking at the well-loved parable of the Four Soils. You know it: The farmer scatters seed on different kinds of soil—the hard path, the ground with stones, the thorny soil, and the fertile soil. Different levels of permeability and receptivity to the life of the Kingdom. It’s the thorny soil that catches my attention today: “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth.” Dear Lord, I know that combo all too well!
Interesting that Jesus connects these two: the specific trap of wealth and worry in general. Makes sense to me; that tracks pretty well with my experience. So where do we go from here? Is Jesus just painting us all into a corner for fun?
I don’t think so. Freedom has always been Jesus’ heart for us—freedom from anything that would try to tyrannize or torment us… and money often falls into that category. I don’t think Jesus is trying to take anything away from us. Really. I think Jesus is the epitome of internal abundance, external compassion, and social solidarity. To that last point, I don’t think we can experience surplus and be oblivious to the extreme poverty that surrounds us (and call ourselves Christ-followers). What’s given to us is given for the greater good.
I’m still trying to figure this out, but here’s what I know. I’d like to be free from some of the thorns of wealth and worry that have caused pain in my life. And I’m guessing you would like the same. So let’s keep leaning into the perplexity of Jesus’ counterintuitive wisdom. Deal?
growing the soul
Here are the questions I’m sitting with this week:
Can I really be equally content with financial need and plenty as Paul describes in Phil. 4:12?
What would radical simplicity look like in my life right now?
Can I be as committed to provision for the larger human community as I am to my personal provision?
serving the world
See last question above!
takeaway
Don’t get choked up.