Then [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15
“To open and explain them. A little before, our Lord had been giving a solemn caution to one who spoke to him about dividing his inheritance. “Beware of covetousness; for the life a man,” that is, the happiness of it, “does not consist in the abundance of the things that he possesseth.” To prove and illustrate this weighty truth, our Lord relates this remarkable story. It is not improbable, it was one that had lately occurred, and that was fresh in the memory of some that were present. “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plenteously.” The riches of the ancients consisted chiefly in the fruits of the earth. “And he said within himself, What shall I do?” The very language of want and distress! The voice of one that is afflicted, and groaning under his burden. What shalt thou do? Why, are not those at the door whom God hath appointed to receive what thou canst spare? What shalt thou do? Why, disperse abroad, and give to the poor. Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Be a father to the fatherless, and a husband to the widow. Freely thou hast received; freely give. O no! He is wiser than this comes to; he knows better than so.”
John Wesley (1703-1791) in “On Worldly Folly” Sermon 119.
When I turned my attention from Counter-Reformation voices to Great Awakening voices, it seemed fitting to explore abundance in the sermons of John Wesley. This one caught my attention as just yesterday Francis de Sales reminded us of the folly of avarice. Likewise, Wesley reveals the idiocy of the idea.
Moving toward the Industrial Revolution, many people experienced material prosperity. Upward socio-economic mobility would become widespread. With it, paradoxically, would come want and distress. Thus, Wesley rightly urged the rich to disperse abundance abroad following our Lord’s commands.
Why don’t more followers of Christ disperse abundance?
Thanks, at least in part to the Industrial Revolution, we saw a seismic shift. Society said, “More is better!” Production surpassed people in importance. Thus, worldliness and avarice went from foolishness to fashionable. Don’t believe it for a second! Be content with what you have, and if God supplies abundance. Disperse it!