Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: "Material Witness"

Then he said, "Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have. Real life is not measured by how much we own." And he gave an illustration: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. So he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store everything. And I'll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!' "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?' "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." --Jesus, Luke 12:15-21 (NLT)

Nobel laureate and Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn died of apparent heart failure, Sunday, August 3, 2008. He was 89. Solzhenitsyn was a prolific writer, selling over 30 million books, which have been translated into over 40 different languages. Chuck Colson compares Solzhenitsyn's messages to those of Jeremiah, the prophet. He courageously exposed injustice and decried man's inhumanity against man, as did the prophet of old.

In 1974, Solzhenitsyn was arrested and forced to leave the Soviet Union because of his criticism of the oppressive Communist government and their torturous labor camps. Upon expulsion, he traveled to Germany, lived for a short time in Switzerland, and then moved to the United States. For 18 years, he lived in Vermont, where he continued his studies and writing. While here in the States, he sounded warnings to the Western world as well.

He offered a critique of American life and culture in a commencement address at Harvard University, titled, “A World Split Apart,” which he delivered June 8, 1978. At the conclusion of his message, he asked a number of questions that we would do well to consider today. He said:

"Even if we are spared destruction by war, life will have to change in order not to perish on its own. We cannot avoid reassessing the fundamental definitions of human life and society. Is it true that man is above everything? Is there no Superior Spirit above him? Is it right that man’s life and society’s activities should be ruled by material expansion above all? Is it permissible to promote such expansion to the detriment of our integral spiritual life?"

Solzhenitsyn was concerned (and rightly so), that the prevailing American culture celebrated and promoted material gain as man's primary reason for being and the amassing of wealth as life's overarching goal. In such a world--a material world without regard or use for God--one exists merely to get as much stuff as he can get, consume as much as humanly possible, and store away the rest.

Jesus warned against this very thing in the story of the "Big Barn Builder Guy." The moral of that story: "A person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

We would be wise to examine our own lives in this regard--lest one day we, also, be found to have much and possess nothing.

think on these things...
"Twenty years before it dawned on many others that freedom cannot have much meaning in a cultural and spiritual vacuum, Solzhenitsyn was being irritatingly candid about the society that had given him refuge--its empty materialism, its mundane obscenity, its substitution of cheap sentimentality for abiding faith, and its worship instead of 'imperfect man, who is never free of pride, self-interest, envy, vanity and dozens of other defects.'" --Paul Greenberg, "The Return of a Prophet"

"Beware! Don't always be wishing for what you don't have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are.'' --Luke 12:15 (LVB)

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." --Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. --1 Timothy 6:6-11 (NKJV)

Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen-the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation: "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy gold from me-gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches." --Revelation 3:14-22 (NLT)