Eat, Drink, and Be Merry – August 3, 2025
Psalm 107:1-9, Luke 12:13-21
August 3, 2025
I saw a T-Shirt once that said this. “Whoever dies with the most toys wins!” Has anyone ever seen that one? “Whoever dies with the most toys wins!” Well, I think Jesus might have had something to say about that. However, I also believe Jesus had a sense of humor. And could see him using such a statement in a funny way. But I think he would have had a bit more to say about it!
I heard a story once, and apparently this is true, that when the gangster John Dillinger was shot and killed by federal agents in Chicago in 1934, he died with only about 70 cents in his pocket! Tony Campolo once made a comment about that. He said, “What great timing!” After robbing banks and stealing thousands of dollars, he died broke! So in a way, it was great timing! He used it all up just before he died! But, according to the T-shirt, Dillinger didn’t “win.” He certainly didn’t die “with the most toys!” And I think Jesus would agree.
Now I have to say that I sort of “dared myself” with this sermon title. “Eat, Drink, and be Merry.” That’s a nice catchy phrase that’s been used in a lot of different ways over the years. I don’t know if Jesus coined that phrase in the passage we just read, but he used it for great effect. But I “dared” myself, wondering what people driving by and reading our sign might think about it! (Or who knows, maybe they’d come in!)
I also hope you noticed that I used the “Oxford comma” this morning. It’s “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry,” not “Eat, Drink and be Merry” without the second comma. That comma right before the word “and” is called the “oxford comma.” Some people think it’s not necessary. But being the grammar “freak” that I am, I’m a big advocate of it! (If I told you this morning that we were praying for sinners, John, and Mary. That sentence would have a completely different meaning without the oxford comma!)
Ok, so much for the grammar lesson. In our story from Luke, this man comes to Jesus and asks him to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. And that’s what prompted Jesus to tell this parable. And it seems like Jesus is a bit annoyed with the man and his request. He said, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?” And it’s interesting that this question came when Jesus was speaking to a large crowd of people. Luke tells us that “One of the multitude said to him.” Was this man trying to put Jesus on the spot, or maybe his brother?
So picture this. Jesus is addressing the crowd, and this man speaks out and asks this question. And I have to wonder, if his brother was there! And did this man point to him and say, “Make him give me the money!” A also have to wonder if this was this a younger brother saying this? Because it was often the tradition in families that first-born got the larger portion of the inheritance. And maybe this man didn’t like that! He didn’t think that was “fair!” Did anybody ever have a bratty younger brother? Was that the case here?
Well, as he often did, Jesus made this a “teaching moment.” He told them this parable. And the key to this parable is found in his opening statement. “Take heed,” he said, “and beware of all covetousness.” And do you think when he said that the people would have been thinking about the tenth commandment, “Thou shalt not covet!” But Jesus didn’t leave it there. He said, “For a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And it’s not measured by how many toys he has! Right?
And I would point out again, that Jesus was not saying we shouldn’t have “things!” He’s not saying we shouldn’t have “toys!” He’s talking about our attitude towards them. “Covetousness” is the key. That’s an attitude, isn’t it? And in this case, it seems to have affected this man’s relationship with his brother. Jesus was doing what he always did. He was going after what was in people’s hearts. He was saying that it’s ok to possess things, as long as things don’t possess us!
So, to make this a true “teaching moment,” he told them this story. We call this “The Parable of the Rich Fool.” And as it goes, the man in the story did well. He did so well, that his barns weren’t big enough to store all his “stuff.” So he decided to build bigger barns. And that’s all well and good. But then Jesus says this. “The man will say to his soul, “Soul.” And I think that’s some humor there on Jesus’ part! “He said to his soul, ‘Soul, you’ve got all that you need. Take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!’”
It’s interesting that this wasn’t just humor. The man in the story was talking to himself, but he wasn’t just “thinking to himself.” He wasn’t just “talking in his mind.” He was “talking to his soul.” The implication here was that he was allowing his concentration on worldly things get into his soul! That was the lesson Jesus was trying to get across. Maybe we can remember his words in the Sermon on the Mount, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Jesus completed that thought by using the same word, “soul,” in his conclusion. Because God then said to the man, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you! And whose will all that stuff be?”
This reminds me of all the operas I studied when I was in college! It seems like the theme, in almost every one of them, was that somebody was selling their soul to the devil. They sold their soul for some kind of treasure or ability. And it was all well and good. Things were great – until the devil came to collect. Rumpelstiltskin helped the princess by spinning her straw into gold. But then he wanted her first born son in payment! It’s not good to sell your soul!
So, what about us? If we were ever tempted to sell our soul to the devil, what would it be for. I think I told you I tried to do that once. It was the time they had a World War II fighter plane down at Northeast Airport, and they were selling rides. I knew I couldn’t afford it, but I did go to the sign-up table and ask the lady where I go to sell my soul!
But seriously, what are those temptations in our lives? What are the things that try to get into our souls? They might be different for each of us. We all have our interests. We all have our passions. And I believe God gives us those things. He wants us to enjoy this life he has given us, and this earth he created. He wants to fill our lives with joy. He wants to inspire our souls. But what are those things that threaten to take his place in our lives and in our hearts. That’s what I want you to be thinking about today and this week.
We call this “The Parable of the Rich Fool,” because “fool” is what God called the man in his conclusion. And it wasn’t that the man was rich that made him a fool! It wasn’t because he ate, drank, or was merry. It was his attitude toward his riches. I’ve said before that I’ve known some wealthy people who were generous and kind, and who cared about others. I’ve also quoted before the man who said that God isn’t so much concerned about our wealth as he is about what we do with our wealth, and what is our attitude toward it.
So yes, do “eat, drink, and be merry.” That part is good! But do so with a grateful heart, not a greedy one. Enjoy the life God has given you, but don’t let your “toys” own you. Because you don’t win if you die with the most! Let your soul be filled, not with stuff, but with purpose. Let your heart be measured not by barns full of treasure, but by love freely given. Because in the end, it won’t be the size of our savings account or the number of things we’ve collected that will matter – the number of toys we’ve accumulated. It will be the richness of our relationships, the depth of our gratitude, and whether or not we made room in our souls for our God.
Prayer
Eternal God, save us from those things that would take your place in our lives and in our souls. Help us to know that all that we have in our lives is a gift from you – a gift from our God who loves us like a father! Keep reminding us of the beauty of creation, and of the beauty you have created in each person around us. And we give you thanks and praise, in the name of your son, who came to show your great love for us. Amen.