THEME:” SET YOUR HEARTS ON THINGS ABOVE” 1ST AUGUST, 2010 COMMUNION SERVICE

TEXT: ECL. 2:18-23, COL 3: 1-11, LUKE 12: 13- 21                     PREACHER: REV. ISAAC ETUAH-JACKSON                          
 Last week, St. Paul reminded his converts that through baptism, they had died with Christ and had risen again with him. They were therefore new creatures. He urges us to set our heart on things above. This is to say that we strive to put heaven priorities into daily practice. Setting our minds on things means concentrating on eternal rather than temporal. We are enjoined to Put to death things of flesh because of this wrath of God is coming but rely on the power of the holy spirit as we set our hearts on things above and commit ourselves to what Christ teaches. The Christian church should have no barriers but a fellowship of all believers (Eph 2:14 & 15). Christians should build bridges than walls because Christ is all and is in all. (Col. 3:11) We need to set our priorities right.

Solomon author of ecclesiastics, who is acclaimed to be the wisest person to have lived on earth, came to the conclusion that everything is vanity. He was meticulous about getting satisfaction as though he was conducting a scientific experiment; through the process he saw that life without God is a long and fruitless search for enjoyment, pleasure, meaning and fulfilment. It’s good to work hard but it bears no lasting fruit for those who work solely to earn money and gain possessions. Not only would everything be left at death but it may be left to those who have done nothing to earn it. What would be more painful is when your wealth is squandered.

In fact Solomon’s son, Rehoboam who inherited his throne was often foolish and the kingdom of Israel got divided after him. (1 kings 12) Solomon teaches us that when we set our minds on our own abilities, wisdom and efforts, our toil will be meaningless but when we direct our hearts and minds to faith in God, there would be a lasting reward or benefit for us. (Eccl 2:22-23)                                            

 Ask this question, Do you know the real reason you are working so hard? It is with the understanding that Jesus speaks to the rich fool in the third reading. Issues of inheritance were often brought to rabbis to settle and this was one of them. Jesus knew the heart of his man. He had asked for his share of the inheritance because he coveted possessions. To covet does not only mean to desire someone else’s property. It also means to possess more than we have. Luke 12 v.15b says: a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Possessions will never give us eternal life, joy and peace instead they give us anxiety. In fact, the more we store up for ourselves if we don’t take care will derail us from trusting God and we will lose our souls as in the parable of the rich fool. (Luke 12:13-21) v. 19, 20 shows his folly.

A man/woman who does not store up eternal treasure in heaven is a full indeed. Why take the risk of losing our matrimonial inheritance just to get some earthly treasure that will last only a few years.

We need to realise that God will evaluate our lives on the Judgement day. We therefore need to learn to live wisely by learning, learning to obey his guidelines. A song for living-children says read your bible pray every day if you want to grow. It is through this that we can set our hearts on things above.              

As we set our hearts on things above he would say come to me and sit at the right hand of Christ that you won’t be like the rich fool. Amen.