Bigger Barns

(The Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21)
ABERYSTWYTH 7.7.7.7 D "Jesus, Lover of My Soul"

"Bigger barns are what I need!" So a rich man said one day.
"From my worries I'll be free when my wealth is stored away."
"Fool!" God said, "Today you'll die! Will your wealth mean anything?
All life's blessings really lie in my life that wealth can't bring."

"Bigger barns are what we need for our money, gadgets, more!"
Lord, we're tempted to believe having wealth, we'll be secure!
Somewhere children cry for food or to have a doctor's care.
Can our bigger barns be good when poor neighbors know despair?

God of love, we long to know what will make us truly blest.
Jesus taught us long ago wealth won't give us peace or rest.
You are our security! Safe in you, we serve, O Lord.
May we find we're rich indeed when we're sharing with the poor.

Tune: Joseph Parry, 1879.
Text: Copyright © 2001 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.

Carolyn gives free one-time use of this hymn to congregations that support Church World Service.

Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is the co-pastor of the Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware and author of Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship is a collection of 45 new hymns published by Geneva Press. A complete list of her hymns can be found at http://firstpresby.org/hymnlist.htm .
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