It’s Not For You Alone

Once upon an illustration, there was this bumper crop.

It caught the landowner by surprise and got him into a self-conversation: “I say to myself” was his typical management style. He sought his own wisdom – that’s how he hears himself think, revealing his established set of attitudes. Here’s a Problem; here’s the Solution. It’s all about “I, me, mine and myself”. That should crowd out all the others. No space left to think of them. Not in the head and not in the heart.

Share your surplus. Don’t hoard. Nothing given to you is meant for you alone. And don’t leave God out of the reckoning.

Abundance ought to be a good thing. It’s simply “more than enough”. You’ve got a fair share, and there is surprisingly more. This should result in an abundant mindset – share your surplus. Don’t hoard. Nothing given to you is meant for you alone. And don’t leave God out of the reckoning.

Apparently, the ground had an abundance mindset, while the owner didn’t. But in this anecdote, what was he short of?

Firstly, there was no place in his heart for others to benefit from the “more than enough”. Hence, it was easy to figure out the solution of his storage problem – just tear down the existing barns and build bigger barns. More, more, more; mine, mine, mine. Since he only consulted himself, his best advice excluded other people, neighbours, even relatives!

It was so easy to conclude that the good fortune that befell him was meant for him exclusively. After all, it was his land; his hard work, his application of good farming techniques. Let others reap their own efforts. As a local expression says so neatly: “I mind my own business”.

Secondly, in doing so, he confused his body with his soul. Big mistake. Huge. Materialism tends to do this to people. “Eat, drink and be merry" is their signature song. (Interestingly, the apostle Paul expanded on this slogan in 1 Corinthians 15:32 – “If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’” To live life for pleasure’s sake alone was a textbook for hopelessness.) There’s more to life than dancing to that tune.

Back to the landowner – he was deemed a fool. “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God,” says our Lord Jesus (Lk 12:21 NLT). The landowner could have recognised the providential hand of God, but he didn’t look that far. Only the near, visible and temporal. An unmitigated error. Everything we do in the present has consequences in the future. The amazing thing is it's possible to be rich towards God. And God desires that we reach out to Him and develop a heart of grateful posture.

Thirdly, he did not factor in the dimension of Time. He knew it would take a while to consume what was so amply given to him. “You have ample goods laid up for many years…” he updated himself. He calculated treasures well but misjudged the essence of Time. Yes, he thought he could ease up, switch to the slower lane and cruise merrily along. Life really looked so right and bright.

Then an unanticipated voice spoke up. He talked to himself but God was joining in this conversation – with a statement and a question. Surely, he was shocked to hear that he only had one day left in hand: “Fool! This night your soul is required of you …” Whaaat? Going to bed tonight and not waking up for even breakfast tomorrow? The queue number has been called, to face the great accounting day. The final whistle has blown. Game over. Now, who will inherit what you have prepared for yourself? Materially rich but spiritually poor.

Abundance begins with surrender. Grateful acceptance of what the Good Shepherd provides. Psalm 23 spells it out. In summary, no lack – instead: green pastures; restful waters; reviving spirit, righteous pathways, no fear of harm; personal divine presence; comforting rod and staff; generous prepared table spread; anointing oil; the full cup that runs over. And accompanied by goodness and mercy into dwelling in the Lord’s house forever. Beat that!

---

What's inside this latest issue?

VOL. 49 NO. 4 of IMPACT Magazine

ABUNDANCE AND GRATITUDE

By Robert Solomon

YOUR BEST LIFE NOW?

By Peter Teagle

THE CURIOUS MATHEMATICS OF GOD'S ABUNDANCE

By Lynette Lim-Teagle

SOMEONE LIKE MICAH... The image of God and life in its abundance

By Mary Yeo-Carpenter

THE IMAGE OF GOD IN US

By Peter Tsukahira

MORE THAN ENOUGH

~ The Impact Panel responds ~

INCOMPARABLE... Amidst pain and suffering

By David Lang

CHATBOTS:... useful, dangerous or downright evil?

By Lynette Lim