WEALTH WITHOUT GOD IS VANITY
HOMILY FOR EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
BY: Rev. Fr. Solomon Zaku
Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23; Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12: 13-21
Hear the story Jesus tells us in the Gospel:
‘The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”
Riches on Earth, Riches in Heaven
Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” This alone makes it clear to us that whatever we have belongs to God or is a gift from God. After all, are we not created by God? We are.
Riches or wealth are gifts from God. If we work or not to acquire them, they are from God and of God. So many have toiled for it but they did not have or do not have it: some have not worked for it and yet they have it. Our first reading attests to this human dilemma. We toil night and day, yet the result will be ‘vanity’ in the end. The restlessness, strains and stress of the day and night all amount to vanity in the end. “A man who toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by a man who did not toil for it.”
God gives us riches or wealth for our benefits, for our good and the benefit of others. He wants us to enjoy our lives on earth, to make the world a better place for everyone to live in. The irony however is that riches can confuse, agonise and upset our minds and even separate us from God if not well handled. This is the tragedy of wealth, not only for the Rich Fool in the Gospel but for many of us in Nigeria and Africa.
How have we used our God-given wealth or riches? Have we used them for the benefits of others or for the destruction of others and our blessed country or continent? Have we spent our wealth in luxurious, prodigal and foolish living or have we used them for the betterment of mankind?
In Nigeria, how have we used the wealth God has given us? Is not on our evil passion, indulgence in immorality, impurity of all sorts like buying guns or weapons or sponsoring violence in the name of religion or region or politics or power-tussle?
The call our second reading sounds to us all is: ‘Seek the things that are above’ and to put to death: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness which is idolatry and we should lie to one another.
Since it is clear that it is God who gives us wealth, it is therefore good. It is only when we misuse it that it becomes detrimental to our lives. It is good if we listen to the warning of Jesus: “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possession.”
If we want our riches to bring us more blessings and better life, Jesus teaches us how to use them in the Gospel of Matthew 25:35-36, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
Today, God calls wealthy Christians and Nigerians to truly feed the hungry and provide drinkable water to the thirsty and not to play politics of theft using the hungry and the thirsty as means to such stealing. We are to feed the poor and not to use them or their photographs to whip up international sentiments so that they will send us more money to enrich ourselves at the expense of the real victims of hunger and thirst.
We are to welcome strangers and shelter the homeless. It is so sad that in spite of the wealth of Nigeria, millions are homeless. Many sleep in the open spaces and in gutters and on the streets.
We are to use our wealth to build hospitals and not fly abroad to London or India or Germany for treatment of a common malaria or ear problem. Senator Gudaje Kazaure, from Jigawa State was in support of a bill advocating the establishment of native medicine in Nigeria. Why can’t our rich people invest in this and develop it to international standard?
We are called to provide basic social amenities for our people so that crimes will be reduced and people will enjoy peace and security in the nation.
We must realize that everything is ‘Vanity of vanities’. This alone should wake us up from our wickedness and change for the better. Our greed for power and pleasure will kill us as a people. We have become foolish by concentrating our energy on seeking for earthily things that we have forgotten about heavenly wealth – God and his Kingdom.
Many Christians today complain of Islamisation Agenda in Nigeria. They have no right to complain. Why? Who stops us from having our Christian agenda? In terms of wealth or riches, between Muslims and Christians generally, which side is richer than the other? Which Imam or sheikh has a private Jet in Nigeria and flaunts his wealth about? Has any sheikh or Imam a university in Nigeria that only the children of the rich go there? Many imams or sheikhs can buy the cars or electronic gadgets Christian leaders possess as they display their wealth or riches? How many wealthy Christians can single-handedly build a church? Are we not the ones busy building hotels and mansions and taking our wives, concubines and kith and kin abroad for education and for shopping sprees? In our show of vanity, are we not the one boosting the economies of China and the United Arab emirates?
As student or young people, what do you use your knowledge for in the society and in the church? There is the menace of brain-drain. We keep complaining that the Nigerian Government has not provided enabling environment for us. Yes, it true. But why can’t all the intellectuals come together and make the enabling environment? Why can’t all the professors agree and provide the best form of leadership example since to whom much is given, much is expected from him? Why, despite their intelligence and intellectual power, their first-class in academic and intellectual matters, are they still used as secretaries of third-class graduated politicians? They are supposed to be the pacesetters and not the cogs in the wheels of the nation.
Today, like the Psalmist, we can only pray at that Jesus will ‘teach us to number our days, that we may gain wisdom of heart’ as we receive him in the Holy Communion so that our struggle here on earth will not in vain. For, whenever we use the riches God has given us here on earth for the betterment of mankind and the promotion of his kingdom, we shall surely meet it there in heaven. But the irony and tragedy for many Christians is that our wealth is for the here and now, to be dissipated on ephemeral pleasures and sensual indulgence while forgetful of the heavenly reward, the things that are above, the incorporeal, the eternal and the imperishable. It is so sad that earthly wealth has blinded many Christians and are groping in their pride and spiritual poverty.
It is only by receiving Jesus in the Holy Communion that our sense of vanity and foolishness will cease. It is only Jesus in the Eucharist who will destroy the evil passions in us which distract us from helping others. If we receive him, he will nourish us and teach us how to live on earth and enjoy the blessings he alone gives.
We are called to receive Jesus in the Eucharist: He is the greatest remedy and medicine against our evil desires and passion, against our sin of pride, greed or avarice, meanness, folly, vanity and senselessness.
BY: Rev. Fr. Solomon Zaku
Readings: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23; Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12: 13-21
Hear the story Jesus tells us in the Gospel:
‘The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.’’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God”
Riches on Earth, Riches in Heaven
Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” This alone makes it clear to us that whatever we have belongs to God or is a gift from God. After all, are we not created by God? We are.
Riches or wealth are gifts from God. If we work or not to acquire them, they are from God and of God. So many have toiled for it but they did not have or do not have it: some have not worked for it and yet they have it. Our first reading attests to this human dilemma. We toil night and day, yet the result will be ‘vanity’ in the end. The restlessness, strains and stress of the day and night all amount to vanity in the end. “A man who toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by a man who did not toil for it.”
God gives us riches or wealth for our benefits, for our good and the benefit of others. He wants us to enjoy our lives on earth, to make the world a better place for everyone to live in. The irony however is that riches can confuse, agonise and upset our minds and even separate us from God if not well handled. This is the tragedy of wealth, not only for the Rich Fool in the Gospel but for many of us in Nigeria and Africa.
How have we used our God-given wealth or riches? Have we used them for the benefits of others or for the destruction of others and our blessed country or continent? Have we spent our wealth in luxurious, prodigal and foolish living or have we used them for the betterment of mankind?
In Nigeria, how have we used the wealth God has given us? Is not on our evil passion, indulgence in immorality, impurity of all sorts like buying guns or weapons or sponsoring violence in the name of religion or region or politics or power-tussle?
The call our second reading sounds to us all is: ‘Seek the things that are above’ and to put to death: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and covetousness which is idolatry and we should lie to one another.
Since it is clear that it is God who gives us wealth, it is therefore good. It is only when we misuse it that it becomes detrimental to our lives. It is good if we listen to the warning of Jesus: “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possession.”
If we want our riches to bring us more blessings and better life, Jesus teaches us how to use them in the Gospel of Matthew 25:35-36, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”
Today, God calls wealthy Christians and Nigerians to truly feed the hungry and provide drinkable water to the thirsty and not to play politics of theft using the hungry and the thirsty as means to such stealing. We are to feed the poor and not to use them or their photographs to whip up international sentiments so that they will send us more money to enrich ourselves at the expense of the real victims of hunger and thirst.
We are to welcome strangers and shelter the homeless. It is so sad that in spite of the wealth of Nigeria, millions are homeless. Many sleep in the open spaces and in gutters and on the streets.
We are to use our wealth to build hospitals and not fly abroad to London or India or Germany for treatment of a common malaria or ear problem. Senator Gudaje Kazaure, from Jigawa State was in support of a bill advocating the establishment of native medicine in Nigeria. Why can’t our rich people invest in this and develop it to international standard?
We are called to provide basic social amenities for our people so that crimes will be reduced and people will enjoy peace and security in the nation.
We must realize that everything is ‘Vanity of vanities’. This alone should wake us up from our wickedness and change for the better. Our greed for power and pleasure will kill us as a people. We have become foolish by concentrating our energy on seeking for earthily things that we have forgotten about heavenly wealth – God and his Kingdom.
Many Christians today complain of Islamisation Agenda in Nigeria. They have no right to complain. Why? Who stops us from having our Christian agenda? In terms of wealth or riches, between Muslims and Christians generally, which side is richer than the other? Which Imam or sheikh has a private Jet in Nigeria and flaunts his wealth about? Has any sheikh or Imam a university in Nigeria that only the children of the rich go there? Many imams or sheikhs can buy the cars or electronic gadgets Christian leaders possess as they display their wealth or riches? How many wealthy Christians can single-handedly build a church? Are we not the ones busy building hotels and mansions and taking our wives, concubines and kith and kin abroad for education and for shopping sprees? In our show of vanity, are we not the one boosting the economies of China and the United Arab emirates?
As student or young people, what do you use your knowledge for in the society and in the church? There is the menace of brain-drain. We keep complaining that the Nigerian Government has not provided enabling environment for us. Yes, it true. But why can’t all the intellectuals come together and make the enabling environment? Why can’t all the professors agree and provide the best form of leadership example since to whom much is given, much is expected from him? Why, despite their intelligence and intellectual power, their first-class in academic and intellectual matters, are they still used as secretaries of third-class graduated politicians? They are supposed to be the pacesetters and not the cogs in the wheels of the nation.
Today, like the Psalmist, we can only pray at that Jesus will ‘teach us to number our days, that we may gain wisdom of heart’ as we receive him in the Holy Communion so that our struggle here on earth will not in vain. For, whenever we use the riches God has given us here on earth for the betterment of mankind and the promotion of his kingdom, we shall surely meet it there in heaven. But the irony and tragedy for many Christians is that our wealth is for the here and now, to be dissipated on ephemeral pleasures and sensual indulgence while forgetful of the heavenly reward, the things that are above, the incorporeal, the eternal and the imperishable. It is so sad that earthly wealth has blinded many Christians and are groping in their pride and spiritual poverty.
It is only by receiving Jesus in the Holy Communion that our sense of vanity and foolishness will cease. It is only Jesus in the Eucharist who will destroy the evil passions in us which distract us from helping others. If we receive him, he will nourish us and teach us how to live on earth and enjoy the blessings he alone gives.
We are called to receive Jesus in the Eucharist: He is the greatest remedy and medicine against our evil desires and passion, against our sin of pride, greed or avarice, meanness, folly, vanity and senselessness.
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