Sermon On Clothed In Mink

Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist and essayist once remarked: "We need the tonic of the wilderness, to wade sometimes in the marsh where the bittern and the meadow hen lurk, and hear the booming of the snipe; to smell the whispering sedge where only some wilder and more solitary fowl builds her nest, and the mink crawls with its belly close to the ground." Matthew 6:28-30 reminds us: "And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

A mink is a semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammal within the weasel family (Mustelidae). It is highly esteemed for its rich dark fur. It is often seen near water and is regarded as a prolific predator. Whilst related to stoats, otters, and weasels, the native European mink, and the more common American mink (invasive in Europe) is prized for its staple for luxury clothing. Mink fur is widely considered a premier symbol of opulence, splendour and high-fashion sophistication. It has long been associated with status, glamour, and exclusivity, often utilized for high-end coats, jackets, and accessories.

In many spiritual traditions, particularly from a biblical perspective, a life focused solely on accumulating wealth is often considered "short-lived" or "meaningless" in God's eyes because it prioritizes temporary earthly treasures over eternal spiritual significance. While wealth itself is not sinful, the attachment to it - treating money as a god or neglecting God for it - is warned against as a dangerous, fleeting pursuit. A mink fur coat or item is historically and culturally considered a treasured, high-value possession, often symbolizing richness, status, and luxury. Renowned for their soft, dense, and durable nature, mink items are often treated as investment pieces, frequently passed down as family heirlooms. For decades, mink has been synonymous with glamour and sophistication, frequently worn by celebrities and the elite. In certain cultures, such as in Northeast China, it is considered one of the "Three Treasures" representing affluence and success. Aquatic and semi-aquatic mammals have historically been, and in some cases still are, among the most highly prized for their fur, largely because their pelts are specially adapted to conserve heat in water. Their fur is typically denser, more durable, and more water-resistant than that of land mammals.

In the Bible, the Parable of the Rich Fool, in Luke 12:16-21, tells of a wealthy farmer who has a bumper harvest and decides to build bigger barns to hoard his surplus for a life of ease, but God calls him a fool because he dies that night, leaving his wealth to others, teaching that true richness comes from being "rich toward God," not from accumulating earthly possessions, and that life isn't measured by material abundance but by one's spiritual state and generosity. It prioritizes spiritual treasures, trust in God, and generosity over accumulating material wealth. It is the opposite of being a "fool" who only stores up worldly goods, involving a life consecrated to serving God, valuing others, and using resources for His kingdom. It warns against greed and self-centeredness, showing that material possessions are temporary and useless in the afterlife, and one's life can end unexpectedly, leaving those treasures behind.

The rich man focused only on storing earthly goods, ignoring God and his neighbor, only to have his soul demanded by God that very night, making him a fool because he was not prepared spiritually. The passage reminds us: "And he told them a parable, saying, 'The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

While a wealthy life is not considered sinful, the love of it is. Monetary assets become meaningless in death. The Bible warns that true wealth is spiritual, not material, often depicting earthly riches as a snare that can cause spiritual blindness. The primary Bible verse regarding the love of money is 1 Timothy 6:10, which states: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." It warns that craving wealth causes spiritual downfall and personal sorrow.