This Sunday, we’re in for a special treat — Pastor Paul, the mentor who first called Pastor Mark into ministry at Rainier Avenue Church, will be preaching on a powerful and sobering passage: The Parable of the Rich Fool.
Jesus tells of a man who had everything — a booming harvest, barns full to bursting, and big plans to build even bigger ones. He had it all… except the one thing that mattered. A rich soul.
Jesus doesn’t condemn planning or productivity. He doesn’t criticize farmers or entrepreneurs. He warns against greed that forgets God, wealth that insulates us from wonder, and comfort that cancels our calling.
“Life is not measured by how much you own.” (Luke 12:15)
This parable hits home — especially for those of us living in relative wealth. Most of us have a roof, clean water, a fridge, a phone, a car — luxuries by global standards. But Jesus isn’t just talking to billionaires. He’s talking to all of us who are tempted to measure our lives by square footage, bank balances, or five-year plans instead of the depth of our trust and the generosity of our hearts.
As someone once said: “You never see a U-Haul being buried next to a grave.
You can’t take it with you. And yet, how many of us live like we’re packing for the afterlife?
C.S. Lewis once wrote: “He who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only.” In other words, if you have God, you’re already rich.
Lord, teach us not to measure our lives by what we own, but by how well we know You. Keep our hearts soft, our hands open, and our faith rich. Amen.
We look forward to seeing you Sunday as Pastor Paul brings a word that promises to challenge, encourage, and re-center us around what really matters. Bring your Bible, bring a friend, and an expectation of blessing.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White