HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-06-13, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013.
By Rev. Dr. Peter Kugba-Nyande
Duff’s United Church, Walton
There’s an old legend about a
greedy man and an envious man who
were walking along when they were
overtaken by a stranger who got to
know them. And after a bit he said,
as he departed from them, that he
would give each of them a gift.
Whoever made a wish first would
get what he wanted, and the other
would get a double portion of what
the first had asked for. The greedy
man knew what he wanted, but he
was afraid to make his wish because
he wanted the double portion for
himself and didn’t want the other to
get it. And the envious man felt the
same way, and he was also unwilling
to wish first.
After a while the stronger of the
two grabbed the other by the throat
and said he would choke him to
death unless he made his wish. And
at that the other man said, “Very
well. I make my wish – I wish to be
made blind in one eye.” Immediately
he lost the sight of one eye, and his
companion went blind in both. Be
careful of greed and envy.
Covetousness exists in many
forms, sometimes as the desire to
possess what belongs to another and
at other times the desire to
accumulate when one already has
enough to meet one’s needs. Some
persons, however, seem unable to
know what is enough until they
reach a point of too much, and often,
too late. This inordinate impulse to
hoard as a guarantee against
insecurity is not only an act of
disregard for those in need, but puts
goods in place of God.
The parable of the rich fool in
Luke 12:16-19 is a story pointing
out the folly of covetousness, the
failure to see the distinction between
what one has and what one is. The
rich fool was given an unusual
harvest. He woke up one morning
and had the multiple-million-dollar
lottery ticket. His first thought was
not what good he could do with such
bounty, but to tear down the existing
barns, make room for even more and
hoard it for himself. “But God said
to him, ‘You fool! You will die this
very night. Then who will get
everything you worked for?’ (Luke
12:20).
Though Jesus’ response was not
directly to the topic, yet it is not a
change of subject, Rather, Jesus is
pointing to a higher issue, a correct
attitude towards the accumulation of
wealth.
Now why did that land bear so
well, when it belonged to a man who
would make no good use of its
fertility? It was to show more clearly
the forbearance of God, whose
kindness extends even to such
people as this. He sends rain on both
the just and the unjust, and makes
sun rise on the wicked and the good
alike.
Jesus challenges us to think
beyond earthbound goals and to use
what we have been given for God’s
kingdom. “For what will a man be
profitted, if he gains the whole
world, and forfeits his soul?” 1 John
2:17 sums up the perspective that we
should adopt. All the things that
mean so much to the people of the
world, including many Christians,
are passing away. It is only when we
learn to abide in the will of God that
we will be able to lay hold of things
of eternal value, things that will truly
abide.
When we strive to lay hold of
things that God does not want us to
have, even if it is all right for others
to possess them, it shows that there
is covetousness within our hearts.
There will also be covetousness
within our hearts when we, out of
self-gratification and fleshly
indulgence, reach out for more than
what God wants us to have.
However, even if we do not reach
out for something outwardly,
covetousness may still exist in our
hearts if there is the presence of a
wrongful desire for what is outside
of God’s will for us.
Setting one’s mind on things
above helps relieve anxiety, fear and
stress. Setting one’s mind on earthly
things only tends to bring
hopelessness, frustration, anger and
despair. Setting one’s mind on
things above brings peace to the soul
and spirit that is not obtainable by
setting our mind on earthly things.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Don’t store up
treasures here on earth, where moths
eat them and rust destroys them, and
where thieves break in and steal.
Store your treasures in heaven,
where moths and rust cannot
destroy, and thieves do not break in
and steal. For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.” May
we always feel the presence of the
Lord in this journey. Amen.
“Dress Yourself with Strength”
was the theme for the Maitland
Presbyterial WMS Spring Rally on
Monday, May 27 in Molesworth. A
lovely variety of delicious desserts
was served by the Molesworth
afternoon and evening groups. The
meeting began with a lively sing-
song led by Betty Armstrong with
Catherine MacDonald
accompanying at the piano. The
worship service was led by Marj
Deyell and Mary Simmons from
Belmore. Scripture was taken from
Psalm 31: 10-31. Mary Simmons
spoke very eloquently about the
“Wife of Noble Character” being a
virtuous woman having both
physical and spiritual strength.
The guest speaker was Margaret
Eadie who shared her experiences
from her mission visit to Southern
Sudan. A group from Wesley Knox
Church, London, went with
Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan
(CASS). This group assists the war-
THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS.
OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Brussels:
St. Ambrose
Saturday
6:00 p.m.
17 Flora Street
Wingham:
Sacred Heart
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
220 Carling Terrace
Listowel:
St. Joseph
Sunday
11:00 a.m.
1025 Wallace Avenue N.
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, June 16
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday School for children
4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743
www.blythcrc.ca
Minister: Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, JUNE 16
Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available
519-887-9017
10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship
- Sunday School
Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
NEW START TIME FOR WORSHIP IS 10 AM
ALL WELCOME
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
STUCK?
We Are In The “Getting Lives Unstuck” Businesshuronchapel.org
Every Sunday @ 10:30am and more
getlivingwater.org
Living Water
Christian Fellowship
10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School
Wingham Bible Study - Tuesdays 7:30 pm
at 308 Blyth Rd. (former Church of God)
Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848
Father’s Day June 16: Luke 7:1-17
Evangelical Missionary Church
“Fathering
with Control
and
Compassion”
June 23: Outdoor Baptism Service
& Potluck at Uyls’
250 Princess St., Brussels
519-887-6388
www.bmfchurch.com
Pastor Jim Whitehead
Guests Welcome
Jesus Is Lord!
Brussels
Mennonite
Fellowship
Worship Service 10:00 am
Sunday School 11:15 am
BRUSSELS
Sandra Cable, Pastor
Church Office 519-887-6259
E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com
SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am
Sunday School
Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship
United Church
From the Minister’s StudyBeware of covetousness says Kugba-Nyande
Spring
rally held
Continued on page 24