RICHES BEYOND THE BARNS

Reflections on the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23, Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11, Luke 12:13-21

Narayana Murthy (Founder, Infosys) opined that “young Indians should work 70 hours a week” to enhance the nation's productivity and competitiveness. He interpreted this as a patriotic duty, adding that “this is exactly what the Germans and Japanese did after the Second World War”. He also regretted, “Somehow our youth have the habit of taking not-so-desirable habits from the West and then not helping the country” (probably meaning the discussion about work-life balance). He is not alone. C. P. Gurnani (Former CEO, Tech Mahindra) “wholeheartedly endorsed” the proposal to build company culture and success. Bhavish Aggarwal (Founder & CEO, Ola) said, “Ola is not for people looking for 9-5 jobs”, emphasising the need for a culture of “hard work” and “hustle”. Sajjan Jindal (Chairman, JSW Group) weighed in, claiming this is required for India to become an “economic superpower”. Subrahmanyan (Chairman, L&T) declared, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife?”.  

Corporate India’s billionaire bosses want young Indians to “hustle” 70 hours a week for reasons ranging from patriotism to fostering a “company culture of hard work”. Do young Indians need to “sacrifice” their physical and mental health, family, relationships, hobbies, exercise, rest, travel, community engagement, personal fulfilment, etc., so India can become a “superpower”? Do these concerns make us “lazy”? Indians already work some of the longest average hours globally. Over 51% of Indian employees work 50-55 hours/week, placing the nation second globally in terms of prolonged working hours. Do more work hours mean more productivity? Decades of research have shown that efficiency plummets after a certain number of hours. Shouldn’t we instead focus on true productivity and sustainable growth, which can only come from a healthy, engaged, and balanced workforce, rather than an exhausted and burned-out one? Is slaving for corporate companies the new indicator of our love for the country? Imagine corporations having to step in to teach us the meaning of patriotism! Do these ambitious corporate leaders also compensate their ‘hustling’ workforce with just salaries and wage hikes? Their track record is not encouraging.

While the pioneers of ‘New India’ seek to justify the exploitation of our labour and their obsession with ‘money’ and ‘progress’, this Sunday’s liturgy pierces through this modern-day clamour. We hear a profound counter-cultural wisdom that exposes the vanity lurking beneath such relentless striving. Qoheleth, the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, asks the piercing question we dare not ignore: “For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has laboured under the sun? All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest”. The “rat race”, exalted by some as the path to national glory, is revealed as the vanity of vanities. Paul, in the second reading, warns us of the sin of idolatry. We should realise that idolatry isn't merely bowing before stone statues; it is allowing anything (wealth, status, national economic rankings, corporate success, or even the relentless drive to work) to usurp the place of God in our hearts and become the ultimate source of our security, identity, and purpose. When work becomes an all-consuming idol demanding the sacrifice of health, relationships, and our very souls, it leads not to life, but to spiritual death. Paul calls us instead to “seek what is above” for that alone can give us peace and true contentment.

Jesus, in the Gospel, delivers the masterstroke with the parable of the rich fool. This man is the poster child for the "hustle culture" championed by some executives. He experiences phenomenal success (a bountiful harvest), focuses solely on expansion (I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones), and rests his security and future happiness entirely on his accumulated wealth (rest, eat, drink, be merry). Yet, God calls him a fool. Why? Because he does not realise that “one’s life does not consist of possessions” and “we should strive to become rich in what matters to God, instead of storing up treasures for ourselves”. This isn't a call to idleness, but a stark reality check. The ceaseless grind, the obsession with accumulation, the sleepless nights fueled by anxiety – where does it ultimately lead? To what lasting fulfilment? For whose profit?

Neither Qoholeth, Paul, nor Jesus is against work, ambition, or national progress. The question is one of priority and balance. What does it mean for us, navigating the pressures of this world?

1. It calls for a radical reorientation of our daily lives. It means vigilantly examining our priorities: Does our work schedule consistently crush time for prayer, family meals, caring for our physical and mental health, serving our community, or simply resting in God's presence?

2. It means redefining success: Not merely by bank balances, job titles, or national GDP, but by the depth of our relationships, our integrity, our compassion, our peace, and our growth in holiness.

3. It means setting boundaries: Having the courage, even amidst cultural pressure, to protect time for rest, genuine recreation, and nurturing the bonds that truly sustain us.

4. It means challenging unjust systems: Advocating for fair wages, humane working conditions, and corporate cultures that respect the whole person, recognising that exploiting labour for profit is antithetical to the Gospel.

5. It means seeking first the Kingdom of God (Mt 6:33), allowing our relationship with Christ to be the compass guiding our work ethic, ambitions, and use of time and resources.

When we strive to become “rich in what matters to God”, we build barns not just for earthly grain, but store up treasures of love, service, faith, and integrity that endure beyond the fleeting vanities of this world, and we contribute to building a nation truly worthy of its people – one founded on justice, dignity, and the peace that comes from God alone. Let us strive to discover the riches beyond our barns!