Article May 15, 1978 Issue

Security can't be lost

RICHARD A. NENNEMAN

You may recall Jesus' parable of the rich man whose worldly goods had so multiplied that he decided to build bigger barns in which to store them, and then confidently thought he could live a life of ease. In the parable God says to the man, "Thou fool ..." and informs him that he has come to the end of his days. Jesus concluded the parable, "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."^{Luke 12:20, 21;}

Had this rich farmer found security? The answer is clearly no. He apparently thought he had found it, but he had been looking in the wrong place.

Christ Jesus' words in the parable point the way toward true security. Security, as elusive as happiness if sought from a material basis, is found as we learn that it doesn't consist of the quantity of things (or bank accounts) we have. Rather, it is found in the expression of the divine qualities freely given to us by God, which we must learn to express more fully. This is a vital lesson because, though more and more of our basic needs are supposedly guaranteed by some arm of government, we seem to be in an era of increasing insecurity. Governments, while playing an indispensable role in society, can never take the place of an infinite God, who has already provided for all man's needs.

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