Preface for Pastors and Parents
This children’s sermon on Luke 12:32-40 is a partner to the one I wrote last week on Luke 12:13-21. In the lectionary cycle of Gospel readings, these texts appear on two successive Sundays. The lectionary just sort of skips over Luke 12:22-31, the charming passage about how we should not worry since God takes care of the flowers and the birds and surely will take care of us as well.
I wonder if the people who set up the lectionary were thinking this week’s Gospel “Proper 14(19)” would answer the question that last week left hanging: How can I be “rich with God”?
Last week’s Gospel reading included the story of the rich man who built big new barns to hold his riches, but was not “rich with God.” It doesn’t, however, say how to get that particular form of wealth. I’m going to treat this week’s text as an answer to that question in my my children’s sermon on Luke 12:32-40.
One odd thing: Jesus is more directive in this text than he usually is. And so, that’s true in this children’s sermon too.
Oh yeah: And here’s a link to my Monday Meditation on this passage from a while back.
A Children’s Sermon on Luke 12:32-40
Good morning, kids! I’m so glad to see you today in worship. Thanks for coming up to hear the children’s sermon.
Last week in the children’s sermon I told a story that Jesus told. It was about someone who tried to make a lot of money and keep it all for himself. In that story the man died and he found out that he wasn’t so rich any more. He found out that once he was dead his money didn’t really matter much.
Jesus said that man’s problem was that he wasn’t “rich toward God.” But Jesus’ story didn’t explain what being “rich toward God” actually meant.
I think that the people who were listening to Jesus that day were probably wondering how they could become rich toward God. And Jesus went on to say things that answered just that question. Let’s imagine how the conversation went.
Worried
Mary Magdalene came up to Jesus and asked “Can we talk?”
She had Nathaniel with her. Nathaniel could be kind of grumpy.
“Sure,” Jesus said. “What’s up?”
So they all sat down to talk.
“We wanted to talk,” Mary said, “because we feel kind of worried.”
Jesus looked at them both, his big brown eyes all full of love. “I’m sorry to hear you’re worried. Feeling worried is pretty rotten. What are you worried about?”
“It was that story you told,” said Nathaniel.
“Which one?” asked Jesus. “You know, I tell a lot of stories.”
“That one about the rich guy who died,” said Nathaniel. “That was a real downer.”
“Ah, that one,” said Jesus.
“It was confusing,” said Mary. “You said he wasn’t ‘rich toward God,’ and how that was a bad thing. But you never told us what that means.”
“Oh I see!” said Jesus. “I’ve been showing you and telling you how to be rich toward God for a long time. I thought you understood!”
“What do you mean?” Mary asked.
Rich toward God
“That man in the story,” Jesus said, “he was rich only for himself. He saved up all his crops and all his money and tried to keep it for himself. Where do you suppose he kept his heart?”
“Um,” said Nathaniel, rolling his eyes, “In his chest maybe? Like everybody else?”
“Nathaniel,” Jesus said, “I think you know what I mean. When I ask about his heart I’m asking what you think he loved the most.”
“Oh, that’s easy,” Mary said. “He loved his money — and his crops and his barns.”
“I think you’re right,” Jesus said. “How did you know?”
“Well…” Mary said, thinking. “He thought about his money, and he worked to make more, and he built big barns to hold it all. It was like treasure to him.”
“Yeah,” said Nathaniel, “If he was a pirate he would have locked it in a wooden chest and buried it.”
“That’s right,” said Jesus, laughing. “His money and his crops and his barns were his treasure. That’s how you know where someone’s heart is — what they really love. When you find their treasure, that’s where their heart is.”
God’s Treasure
“So maybe,” said Mary, “to be rich toward God means to have our treasure be the things God really loves.”
“That’s a good way to put it,” Jesus said. “Then your heart will be where God’s treasure is. Now what have I tried to show you and tell you about what God really loves?”
They thought for a minute.
“Well,” said Nathaniel, “you sure love to teach people. I mean you can go on for hours and hours sometimes.”
“Right,” said Jesus, “Good start. I love for people to know about living in God’s Kingdom. What else.”
“When you’ve been teaching a long time,” Mary said, “when they get hungry, you make sure they have food. One time you made food for 5000 people!”
“That’s right,” Jesus said. “I try to give people what they really need when I can.”
“When you can?!?” said Nathaniel. “You give’ people what they need all the time! If you’re not teaching them and feeding them you’re healing them. I can’t count the number of people you’ve healed!”
“Right again,” said Jesus. “And now you know something about being rich toward God. You can love people. Love them by teaching them and feeding them and healing them. Help people get what they really need. Make that your treasure.”
Still Worried
Mary and Nathaniel looked at each other silently for a minute. Then Mary said, “Actually I’m still worried.”
“Me too,” said Nathaniel.
“Why’s that?” Jesus asked.
“I obviously can’t do that stuff,” said Nathaniel. “I can’t heal people by just saying something or touching them. And I can’t make bread for 5000 people. It’s hopeless.”
“I wonder what you can do?” asked Jesus. “Maybe you could give some money to someone who needs it.”
“How will I know they’ll do the right thing with my money?” he asked.
“Well,” said Jesus, “If you give it to them, it won’t be your money any more. And you’ll know the same way God knows that you’ll do the right thing with what God gives you.”
“How is that?” Nathaniel asked.
“I wonder.” Jesus said.
“I don’t have much money,” Mary said.
Jesus asked, “I wonder what you do have?”
“Well…” Mary said. “We have some extra clothes at home that my sister and brother and I outgrew. And some old toys we don’t use any more. And other stuff I guess.”
“What if you had a yard sale?” asked Jesus. “You could all sell your things and give the money to people who need it. Plus people who need those clothes and things would have them.”
“I guess I could try,” Mary said. “But I’m still worried.”
“O Mary and Nathaniel,” Jesus said gently, “I love you both so much. I feel sometimes like I’m a shepherd and you are my sheep. I just want to take care of you. So as your shepherd, here’s what I say: Don’t be afraid, little flock!Give to the poor. Let your treasure be what God loves. It’s all going to work out really well!”
“So how is that going to work out?” Nathaniel asked. “We will have no clothes and no money because we gave it all away. Then what?”
“Actually God’s plan is to give you the whole Kingdom. You’ll never have too little of anything then. For now, make what God loves your treasure.”
Wondering
I wonder how it worked out when they sold some things and gave the money away?
I wonder how it feels to love what God loves?
I wonder what it might mean that God is giving us the Kingdom?
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