Message: To Have or To Be / Luke 12:13-21

About fifty years ago, a German-American social psychologist named Erich Fromm (1990-1980) asked an important question through his book To Have or To Be? The book explores how people understand their true selves in one of two ways.

The first way is called the "Having Mode." In this mode, people believe their identity and value come from owning things like money, titles, power, or knowledge. Those who live this way always want more, thinking they become more important by having more possessions.

Fromm points out that those who try to find their identity through what they have cannot be free from worry and fear. Their desires never end, and they constantly feel that something is missing. This unlimited desire leads them to believe that they are never enough. When they can no longer get more, they feel worthless and useless. For example, those who find their value only in their job or income often experience deep emotional pain when they retire.

This way of thinking not only harms individuals but also damages society. When relationships are based on gaining more possessions or status, true love and care become difficult to find. Such a mindset leads to division, competition, and conflict. It also hurts the environment through constant consumption and the overuse of natural resources.

On the other hand, Fromm describes another way of living called the "Being Mode." In this mode, people find value in who they are, not in what they have. Those who live this way believe that every person is inherently valuable, just as they are. They recognize that each person has a light inside that can help make the world better. Life becomes meaningful through real experiences, inner growth, and true relationships.

People who live just as they are focus more on personal and spiritual growth. They experience freedom and happiness because their peace comes from within. This inner peace helps them face challenges with hope, seeking better paths rather than falling into despair. Knowing their own worth, they also see and respect the same light in others. Their relationships are authentic and filled with love. They do not divide people into friends or enemies but strive to build peace, harmony, and cooperation. And since their joy does not depend on buying or collecting more, they do not take more from nature than they need. They are content to live in ways that respect and care for the earth.

By asking, “To have or to be?”, Fromm challenges us to consider which path we should choose. He breaks through the illusions created by endless advertising and consumerism, revealing where true happiness comes from.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus gave a similar warning in today’s Gospel reading. He said, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then Jesus told a story about a rich man who already had enough. His barns were full of food and goods, but he decided to tear them down and build bigger barns. He thought having more things would make him happier. But on the very night his new barns were finished, his life ended. All his possessions meant nothing.

What matters is not the things themselves, but how we use and treat them. Things are not the goal. They are tools that help make our lives and the world better. We need enough possessions, property, and money to live. Jesus never encouraged poverty. He cared deeply about people’s needs, like feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and comforting those who are lonely. Jesus helped people with their needs so they could live with hope, dignity, and joy.

But some try to use Jesus as a means to have more. Today’s story begins when a man asks Jesus to help settle a family fight over an inheritance. But Jesus says no, refusing to act as a “broker.” He replies, “Friend, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”

According to the biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan, in Jesus’ time, brokers were people who stood between the powerful and ordinary people. They used their position to take money and benefits for themselves. These brokers did not really care about God’s kingdom, where everyone is treated fairly. Instead, they served the rich and powerful, protecting their interests. To keep the poor quiet and prevent them from speaking out or rising up, they gave just enough to calm them down.

Brokers came in many forms, such as tax collectors, priests, government officials, and others who regularly interacted with the people. They controlled access to land, legal support, and religious matters, using these to gain power and keep people dependent on them. Because of this, the gap between the rich and the poor grew even bigger. In the end, this system helped only a few people at the top and left most others powerless and ignored.

Jesus rejected the role of a broker. According to Crossan, Jesus shared and lived a vision of God’s kingdom where no brokers were needed. He stood against systems that gave power to a few and excluded others. Jesus challenged elitism and legalism that created barriers. By sharing meals with everyone, welcoming outsiders, and teaching that God’s kingdom is open to all, Jesus showed a way of life where every person lives as they are, as a beloved child of God.

However, many churches today treat Jesus not as the Saviour but as a broker. Even though they already have much, they use the name of Jesus to gain more and more. One clear example is in the United States. America is already the strongest country in the world in both wealth and military power, yet many still want to "Make America Great Again." A report from the Pew Research Center last April shows that 72 percent of white evangelical Christians in the United States approve of the way Donald Trump is leading. This is not surprising. The country has long been home to mega-churches that twist Jesus’ message, teaching that more wealth is a sign of greater blessing. Former U.S. Senate Chaplain Richard Halverson (1916-1995) once said: "In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America where it became an enterprise."

The Gospel of Christ is not centred on endless greed. It is a message that every human life is precious. Our worth is not measured by how much we own. We are beloved children of God, created in God's image, and called to live with hope and peace.

Jesus teaches us to be rich toward God. This means sharing the good news with those trapped in the illusion of materialism. It means being like the Good Samaritan, showing care and compassion. It means being like Mary, who sat at Jesus' feet and listened. It means trusting in God through prayer. Jesus invites us to live not rich in barns but rich in the Kingdom of God, not rich in money but rich in love. 

So today, the question is asked again: To have or to be? Will we chase after endless greed, or will we find the freedom of being our true selves in God? Will we build bigger barns, or will we build deeper relationships? Will we live to store, or will we live to share?

May all of us here live with true abundance, the abundance of faith, love, and hope.