There are times in our lives when things are just going the right way. Our relationships are energising and life-giving, our families are in good health, we are enjoying our jobs and the bank account balance is moving in the direction we want it to be moving. These are the moments when our land brings forth plentifully.
The rich man in Jesus’ parable is going through one of these good patches. He sits back, looking at his wealth, and asks, “what shall I do with all of this?”
Perhaps Jesus is inviting us today not so much to look at the blessings in our lives, but to consider how we respond to them. What is our first reaction when something goes our way? It can be tempting to think that all the good in our lives is thanks to our own attributes and our own efforts. Sometimes, the good times are the times when we forget about
God.
Yet don’t we depend entirely on God for our existence and isn’t it God who has given us all the gifts and talents that we have? It seems that the only appropriate response to the gifts that God gives us is gratitude. Gratitude, in turn, stirs up generosity. When we realise that all that we have is a gift from God, it frees us to place these gifts at the service
of others, creation, and God.
Think of those moments of your life when you really felt that God was blessing you. What was happening? What gifts did you receive? How did you respond? Were you able to give thanks to God and place these gifts at his service?
