Soul work

Our attitude toward money, goods and possessions has a way of bringing out both the best and the worst in us. Think about how this is working itself out in your own life, and those around you.

Jesus had a lot to say about money and possessions and the place they hold in our lives. This teaching made him both enemies and followers. Often, people tried to draw Jesus into their disagreements, hoping he’d weigh in on their side. On one such occasion there’s an unnamed man whose father has recently died (see Luke 12). The man is in dispute with his brother over the father’s estate.

It’s a familiar scenario when sibling rivalry has brewed below the surface, only to emerge after the death of the presiding parent. With the benefactor now dead, the beneficiaries can show their true colours. In this case, the demand of the discontented brother is for Jesus to

tell the other that there should be fairness in the division of the estate. Even without knowing the cultural norms around such matters, a closer look shows that neither brother wins in Jesus’ response.

Jesus tells a parable about a rich man who had a fertile farm that produced amazingly abundant crops. The farmer decides to tear down his existing barns, replacing them with larger ones to make room for his accumulated harvest. He figures that once these bigger barns are full, he’ll have nothing more to worry about and can just kick back and take things easy. The sting in the tail of this parable is that on the very night the rich farmer achieves his utopia of full barns, he dies. So he doesn’t get any benefit from them at all. Jesus calls him a fool.

Concluding his parable, Jesus says, ‘Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God’ (Luke 12:21, NLT). Strong words on top of his earlier caution to the brothers in verse 15: ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’  

So, here’s the rub: both brothers come off badly. The wealthy brother loses because he’s become so possessed with his possessions that he loses sight of any sense of responsibility toward others—and dies before he can enjoy what he has. The other brother loses also, having his own heart exposed by the way Jesus zeroes in on the real issue. Both brothers are bitten by the same deadly attitude toward wealth and possessions.

Matthew’s gospel gives us repeated warnings about this same thing. In Matthew 16, Jesus talks plainly to his disciples (and us) about where our security lies. In verse 26, he asks compelling questions: ‘And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?’  

The season of Self Denial is an annual observance in The Salvation Army, inviting us to make a sacrificial contribution to the Army’s international mission, with one week’s salary suggested as our financial gift. As the Self Denial Appeal launches on 21 July, and as each week we’re provided with information and reflections to consider, this is a good time to do some ‘soul work’ around the issues raised. To help us, we might like to use the practice of Lectio Divina, or devotional reading. Many are rediscovering this as a way of reading Scripture that draws us into deeper encounter with God.

Select one of the Bible passages in each of the Self Denial weekly handouts and experience this for yourself. Firstly, read the passage slowly and aloud. In the process, your attention may be drawn to a particular word or phrase. Stop there, and attend to what God may be saying to you. Then, read the passage a second time, savouring the words. Meditate on the words that light up for you in this second reading. Our response to God comes as we read the passage a third time, becoming increasingly aware of our inner reaction to what the Bible seems to be saying, and talking to God about this in prayer.

This is just one way to use this Self Denial season for deeper soul work, allowing us to open up to God’s Spirit as we prepare for a time of giving. The Self Denial journey of 2013 may take us to fresh ways of knowing as we commit ourselves to a journey with the Word of God, meditation and prayer. In turn, we will become the beneficiaries of a richer relationship with God.

By Major Heather Rodwell (abridged from War Cry 13 July 2013, p11)

*Major Heather Rodwell is Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development for The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory