Greedy

There are moments when I find myself questioning my life choices. For the past two weeks, as I prepare for these messages, I ask myself, why did I pick September to do a stewardship series? I mean why? September has 5 Sundays. So, naturally, that means 5 sermons! Why didn’t I pick October? See, next week, the first Sunday in October, Rev. Traci Loveman is preaching because I will be out celebrating my wedding anniversary with my beautiful wife! The week after, we will have a Faith in the morning service but we will have a joint service with Hope. Then on the 27th, we are having a homecoming type service with Dr. Tom Lovell preaching. So, if I had picked October, I would have only needed to preach 1, maybe 2 sermons about this subject and I could have moved on with life.

Yet, for whatever reason that I can’t possibly think of, I chose September. Well, we are on the last of these messages. Over the past few weeks, I have been quite critical of times when I felt like the Bible was twisted and contorted to support someone’s agenda for giving. The thing is, these people are doing the best they can. I don’t think it is ill-willed. I don't think it is intentionally manipulative to help someone get rich, like the TV preachers. Sadly, I even include myself in the mix of them. However, it is a difficult subject and it is a necessary subject. For example, several years ago I was visiting my parents’ church. They had been inviting me for sometime so I decided to just up and visit. The worship was good. It was a nice visit. After church, we all went to go eat and my dad asked me what I thought about the sermon. The sermon was on stewardship. I responded, well, he had a very difficult subject. I think he did what he thought was right and I can commend him for that. His sermon was on our passage in Luke.

He told the story that Jesus was the king. The king was going away, but will come back one day. He gave 1 mina to 10 servants. One had a yield of 10 minas, the other had a yield of 5 minas and the third just hid his away. The story doesn’t say what happened to the others. For those wondering, a mina is worth about 100 days wages. So, this was a considerable amount of money. He challenged them to put the money to work. The first two did. They doubled their money and the new king rewarded them. The third didn’t do so well. The king gets mad at him and judges him because he mismanaged his fund. Those who mismanage will have what is theirs taken away. Sooo, we are to be good stewards of what God has given us. Otherwise, the king will get mad at us. I mean there is that reference to those who don’t want Jesus to be king.

Now, I left out a lot of other stuff he said but these were some of the highlights. My dad knew my facial expressions and my language and knew I was holding back so he pushed more. He asked what I really thought about the message. I replied, to me, he made God look awfully greedy! The thing is, this passage is often interpreted, kinda sorta, the way the preacher taught it, plus or minus the judgment and killing part. In fact, many believe that Luke copied from Matthew, who tells the story using the word “talents.” Just so you know, a talent was the largest sum of money, equal to 600 days wages. No matter the differences and similarities between the stories, the plot is the same: a person leaves his slaves with cash to invest. Upon his return he finds that two have done well and one has not, and hands out rewards and punishments accordingly. So, the preacher didn’t get it wrong! Furthermore, I think everyone here knows that passages in the Bible have range so multiple interpretations can be made. But, I don’t think the context is completely right.

In Matthew’s context, the story is about the coming of the kingdom. It will come, when it is least expected so be prepared. However, Luke tells the story slightly differently. Jesus is going to Jerusalem and the people think that the kingdom of God will come immediately. Jesus then begins the parable about the owner leaving town for a while. So, it is natural to assume that this story is like the one in Matthew. Jesus was using it to correct the belief that the kingdom of God was coming immediately.

But, Luke includes some different details besides the amount of money. There is a different description of why the person left the country. Matthew says he just left to go on a journey, but Luke says the nobleman went to gain some power. There is this note that there are some people who did not want him to rule over them. So, it seems that he was not a liked character. Later on in the story, this is confirmed because the final guy, the one who didn’t do anything with his money said I was afraid of you. You are a harsh man.

This is where I differ with my parents’ pastor. I have a really difficult time seeing Jesus as a harsh man. R. Alan Culpepper agrees with me and says that this passage shows how the king is an antitype for Jesus. While Jesus is certainly king, it is not like the people thought he would be. Instead, the description of this nobleman is one who sought to be royal. He took it! Then he gives instructions to the servants to do business with this money until I return. Compared to Matthew’s person and Jesus, Luke’s nobleman seems less generous, less trusting, and more clearly interested in profit.

So, that begs the question: Is God greedy and only interested in profit?

I don’t think so. All the other descriptions of God reveal God to be loving and benevolent. I can’t imagine God being so harsh, like this young king. So, I find myself agreeing with Dr. Culpepper. Maybe, this story isn’t so much like the Matthew story. The people really thought that Jesus would be King. But, the only type of king they knew was the kind in Rome. The one that did oppress people. The one that did expect results. The one that would crush and kill anyone that got in his way. But, the Bible doesn’t describe Jesus this way. I think that was the whole point of this story. Jesus would be a king like no other king. He would be a gracious king, where this king was not. He would be a forgiving king, this king was not. He would be a benevolent king, this king was not.

I am so glad this story doesn’t describe Jesus and God’s wrath for mismanaging things because I would be in quite a mess. I would bet that there are others can relate with me on this. In fact, I think the whole Israelite nation could. The context for probably the most quoted verse in Jeremiah is the people messed up. They didn’t trust God. They instead trusted in themselves and landed themselves in captivity. So, Jeremiah tells them despite all the bad things that have happened to them. I know the plans for you, says the Lord. There are plans for good. Plans to prosper you and plans that do not harm you.

That is the difference between societal norms and God’s love. Society has rules and requirements. Sadly, I fit in well with those standards. I mean it's no secret I want Auburn football to win! I want results! I bet you Alabama fans do too! I know I know I have gone off meddling now. But let's face it. We want results. There are standards and results that have to be met. Otherwise, severe consequences could occur. However, that is not God. Now, God loves results, but that is not God’s focus. I mean consider the story of sower in Luke 8. The story goes that a sower went out to sow. Some seeds fell on dry ground, some didn’t take root and dried up and some fell on fertile ground. Because we want results we focus on the ground.

God isn’t focused on results. God just wants us to throw out the seed. God just wants us to trust him. That is what Jesus was trying to tell the people. Trust him! Trust him and he will make all our paths straight. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Our own understanding requires results. God gives us grace! God gives us love. All we have to do is trust him. Trust him because he has plans for us. He has plans for good and not harm. Trust him and he will make our paths straight.

So today, my friends, let us remember that God is a loving and benevolent God. God loves us, even when we don’t create results. God loves us no matter what. So, today, my friends, on commitment Sunday, let us trust our loving God who is the complete opposite of greedy!

Grace and Peace

Amen