These Foolish Earthly Treasures

                                                      

                

                                                            Picture Credit: biblestudytools.com

This coming Thursday is National Poetry Day so I thought I would make an early contribution to this annual celebration of the poetic form. Today is also my birthday, so hopefully you will allow me this indulgence to show one of my infrequent forays into the world of poetry, particularly poetry inspired by Holy Scripture.

 For the past couple of years I have been training to be a Local Preacher in the Methodist Church (one up from Worship Leader apparently), which has involved a lot of academic endeavor similar to that I went through when studying at the Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham for my theology degree.  

 As part of the training, we had to undertake various theological-themed exercises one of which was re-imagining a parable and putting into a modern context. Trying to re-imagine parables into a modern context is not always as simple or easy as it sounds given their allegorical nature; some like the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) do lend themselves well to a modern reworking but others like the parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mark 12 or Luke 20) perhaps less so.

 As luck would have it, the parable I finally settled on was also one which was included in the lectionary readings for the 21^st of June last which co-incidentally, was when I was leading a mid-week service at my local church so was able to include the poem in the reflection part of the service.

 

These Foolish Earthly Treasures

A poem based on a modern telling of Luke 12: 13-22: The Parable of the Rich Fool

By how much do we measure the value of our lives?

The wise proverb declares a good name is to be chosen over great riches

and favour is better than silver or gold.[1]

Yet in our ultra-competitive, dog eat dog world we come to

Be defined not by quality of our character,

but by the quantity of worldly symbols we possess.

Shared inheritances create not satisfaction but arbitration,

To demand help and influence from outside the tent;

Where the superficial is elevated above the substantial

And succumbing to the prevailing culture

Deflects us from the greater riches offered by the Almighty.

 

The rich fool sits in his gated paradise

Surrounded by glistening abundance,

Status symbols of the latest vintage

Soon to be discarded for newer forms,

But only where the chosen few can enter.

What should I do he asks for space is at a premium?

I know, I will enlarge and expand in every direction

I will go upwards, outwards, downwards

Build back better as boundaries will allow.

And here I will store my goods and my chattels,

To take my pleasures, knowing they are mine for all time.

 

But then the all-knowing, omnipotent God

Having witnessed these boastful assertions,

Declares the rich fool’s life is now forfeit to the Lord’s decree.

Who will safeguard your riches now he demands?

Your high-performance cars, electronic gadgets, designer clothing and jewellery,

Your bespoke kitchen, with its wine cooler and American style fridge,

And not forgetting the widescreen, surround sound, plasma Tv.

This parable is told says the teacher to let it be made known,

That those who store up these foolish earthly treasures

can expect no pockets in moth-eaten shrouds; for

The Greatest Riches are those that are declared before God.

  

Michael Cronogue originally from London now resides in Walsall in the Black Country. Writer, blogger & occasional poet. Methodist Worship Leader, blue light chaplain. Doting Grandad, Saracens RFC fanatic, also likes books, music, cinema & theatre.

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[1] Proverbs 22:1-2