2008-11-16 Third Sunday of the End Times

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Third Sunday of the End Times

Nov. 16, 2008

Fearful Stewards or Faithful Servants?

Matt. 25:14-30

Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I

will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.

In the Name of One who Is, and who Was, and who is to Come. Amen.

What is the most frightening topic you can imagine for a sermon?

Hell? Maybe.

Death and Damnation? Perhaps.

Some specific sin that hits too close to home? Possibly.

But none of these compare with the subject that many Christians

would rank at the top of their list for being least favorite and most

disturbing. I refer, of course, to the topic of Stewardship.

We really dont want to hear the pastor harangue us about giving more

money. Especially not when we are struggling as it is in a sluggish economy

and with Christmas right around the corner. If that is the case, I have good

news for youthe sermon today, though it deals with the subject of

stewardship, is not focused solely on moneybut rather on investments.

Not, however, the type you might find in your portfolio, but rather the kind

that takes you to the portal of heaven. And even more specifically for the

Christian steward, what it is that drives our investmentsFear or Faith?

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Last Sunday we spoke of the fear that some have of the Second

Coming of Christ. Though some may be fearful of losing their lives forever

in the kingdom yet to come, it is safe to say that almost everyone, Christian

or not, is even MORE fearful of losing our livelihood in the here an now.

Every time we turn on the radio, television, or internet we are reminded of

more problems in the financial world and downturns on Wall Street.

Tuesday morning as I sat writing this sermon the talk was of the problems

with the big three auto makers, and the 97% drop in income for Starbucks.

Wednesday it was another big drop in the Dow.

For those of you who lived through the great depression, these times

may seem frighteningly familiarand for those who didnt, these troubled

waters that we are sailing are completely uncharted. So when we hear the

Master in the Gospel parable that Jesus tells today rebuking the steward who

hid his treasure rather than risking investing it on something uncertain, we

might be left scratching our heads. After all, in trying times it seems best to

do just what that steward was doing--hold onto our money

bury it, be it literally or figuratively

Keep it safe for ourselves.

Thats what people did during the Great depression, didnt they? We

all have heard stories about or known someone who stashed money away in

tin cans or under mattresses, or maybe like cousin Eddy buried it in their

backyard, only to forget later where they put it.

What drives these actions? And why is that the master in the parable,

who symbolizes the Lord, is so upset by such things? It is because the

steward is controlled by fear; and a lack of faith.

We hear his fear in his own words, Master, I knew you to be a hard

man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no

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seed, so I was afraid. Did he have reason to fear his master? Maybe, but

ironically, no such sentiment is expressed by the two faithful stewards. Far

more likely is that this unfaithful steward perceived his master like many see

Godas harsh and vengeful rather than kind and loving. As One who

desires to see us suffer, rather than delighting in providing for our security.

Therefore he did not invest his talents, but instead horded them and

hid them away.

It makes us pause and ask if we are similar to this unfaithful steward?

Do we share his perspective on God? Do we see God as being incapable or

unwilling of providing for our every need? And have we developed that

perspective because of something that we have lacked in our lives?

Perhaps we grew up during hard times, when our there wasnt enough

money to go around. And so we view money greedily, seeking security in it,

using it only for ourselves instead of sharing it with God and others.

Perhaps we grew up in a family where there was a lack of love. And

so we have spent our lives trying to acquire the love that we never received.

Instead of being loving and giving it to others we try to get the love from

others that we dont have.

Perhaps our lives have been surrounded by those who never had

enough time for us. Parents who are too busy to talk, or listen. A Husband

or wife who spends more time, effort, and energy on work than they do on

their marriage. Friends who want to get together only when they really need

us. And as a result, we have adopted the idea that we dont have enough

time for othersor for that matter Godeither.

Whatever the case may be, we fear because we dont have. And so

whatever talent or treasure the master gives us, we end up keeping it for

ourselves.

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Dear friends, St Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy that God has not given

us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self control. This is one

example of the central message of the Gospelnamely that The Lord has

replaced fear with faith. He has done so by Himself confronting the fear that

threatens each of us.

And in 2 Corinthians we hear these words: You know the grace of our

Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became

poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

When The Son of God took on human flesh, He did so in love,

not fear. Indeed, there was much that He may have fearedhumanly

speaking. The threats of Herod at his birth. Growing up as the son of a

carpenter in Nazareth. Being confronted by the devilnot once but on

numerous occasions. Living daily in very meager circumstances. But the

perfect love of God drives out all fear.

When the Son of God went to the cross, He did so in love, not fear.

Indeed, there were many things that He shouldve feared. The beatings and

betrayals. The scourging and suffering. The unfair accusations and public

humiliation. Even and especially all the powers of the devil and hell itself

that were arrayed against Him. But this holy, meek and sinless Lamb of God

went fearlessly forward to die on the cross. And as we behold Him there we

clearly see the perfect love of God that drives out all fear.

And then, three days later when the Son of God rose from the dead,

He called His followers to live in love, not fear. Do you remember the first

message the angel spoke to Mary? (Fear not). It was the same message that

was spoken after the resurrection. Having seen the risen Lord we see the

disciples transformed. No longer are they hiding behind locked doors,

huddling in a corner. Instead they are boldly proclaiming the Gospel, even

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when threatened with their very lives. Furthermore, they are not holding

back on the gifts that the Holy Spirit gave them, but instead are giving

generously both to God and to others. The exception, of course, is Annanias

and Saphira who were struck dead for selling property and holding back

some of the proceeds from the Lord and then lying about it. The faithful

disciples on the other hand are found constantly givingto God and to

otherseven to the point of giving their lives. Clearly the perfect love of

God drives out all fear in these first Christians, and is replaced by faith. And

He does the same for you.

You see, dear friends, the measure of Gods grace does not depend on

the economy. The amount of mercy He bestows upon you is in no way

determined by the mercy that you have, or havent received from others.

And the love of God in Christ Jesus which fills you means that you lack

nothingeven if you lack love from others. No matter what happens with

the economy, your health, your family or your wealth, you lack no good

thing. But in fact, it goes beyond this. For not only do we not lack, but we

have an abundance! For the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be

measured in dollars and cents. It is not dependant on what others are, or

arent, giving to us. For in Christ we have been given all things! The

Gospel of Jesus Christ assures us of what the father of the prodigal sons

older brother told himSon, you are always with me, and all that I have is

yours! In baptism we have been made heirs of the treasures of eternity.

Everything that belongs to Jesus has become ours. As The Holy Scriptures

assures us, God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that havingall

sufficiency in all things atall times, you may abound in every good work.

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May we therefore live in faith, not fear. Looking forward to the day He

comes again and we hear these words: Well done good and faithful

servant.

In Jesus Name.

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2008-11-16 Third Sunday of the End Times