Sermon - Pentecost 8 - Luke 12:13-21

 

One of the greatest temptations for us is that of riches, wealth, things, stuff.  The material world.  Greed and covetousness.  The continual lust for more.  Who hasn’t daydreamed about winning the powerball, or inheriting millions from some long-lost uncle?  Who doesn’t want a bigger house, a nicer car, better duds, or the ability to travel in luxury? 

The New Testament spills much ink, and our Lord Jesus speaks many warnings about the dangers of money, the temptation of materialism, and the like.  Today we have one of his most poignant parables – commonly called the “Parable of the Rich Fool”

And like a fine wine pairing, so often our Old Testament reading closely aligns with the Gospel reading (non surprise, because they have the same ultimate author).  Today we hear from Ecclesiastes and we have the ruminations of Solomon, one of the wealthiest men ever to live.

2 Chronicles 9 tells us about Solomon’s great wealth:

King Solomon's Wealth

13 Every year King Solomon received over twenty-five tons of gold, 14 in addition to the taxes paid by the traders and merchants. The kings of Arabia and the governors of the Israelite districts also brought him silver and gold. 15 Solomon made two hundred large shields, each of which was covered with about fifteen pounds of beaten gold, 16 and three hundred smaller shields, each covered with about eight pounds of beaten gold. He had them all placed in the Hall of the Forest of Lebanon.[a]

17 The king also had a large throne made. Part of it was covered with ivory and the rest of it was covered with pure gold…

20 All of King Solomon's drinking cups were made of gold, and all the utensils in the Hall of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered valuable in Solomon's day. 21 He had a fleet of ocean-going ships sailing with King Hiram's fleet. Every three years his fleet would return, bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and monkeys.

22 King Solomon was richer and wiser than any other king in the world. 23 They all consulted him, to hear the wisdom that God had given him. 24 Each of them brought Solomon gifts—articles of silver and gold, robes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules. This continued year after year.

(and he also had 700 wives and 300 concubines!) 

But now, in Ecclesiastes, near the end of his life, Solomon writes that all of this is vanity!  It’s nothing!  It is of no value.  All the toiling and gathering, all the building of bigger barns, all the stuff upon stuff that Solomon had…

…the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

It’s like Jesus says about the Rich Fool, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”

The point is the same:  We are all tempted to be caught up in the gathering of material things, but quick to forget that none of this wealth will last.  We will die, and someone else will take over everything you once called yours:  Your bank account, your fancy things, even the contents of your junk drawer.

It's all vanity.  It’s all worthless, ultimately, when you die.

Or another way of saying it is the true wealth of Solomon wasn’t in the gold and the silver and the monkeys.  It was the wisdom God had given him.  So would the Son of David named Jesus point us to true wealth in the wisdom of God. 

If one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions, then in what does life consist?  If we ought not be too concerned to store up treasures on earth, then how do we get the treasures of heaven?

The answer is always found in Jesus Christ, of course.

The Small Catechism puts it nicely, that “he has redeemed me, not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood, and with his innocent suffering and death.”  The blood of Christ, the death of Christ, which redeems us from death – that’s the treasure, that’s the real value proposition here.  For all these things of the world ultimately avail to nothing.  They are passing away.  But the work of Christ, the grace of God, the riches of the cross are ours forever.

This is the treasure of heaven, that golden ticket to paradise that is only punched by faith in Christ, and that faith itself a gift and treasure.

And so the good news today is not to shape up and get your priorities in order, give away all your stuff and live like a pauper.  The good news is that you already have the best treasures in Jesus Christ!  Rich or poor, young or old, male or female, whatever your station or place in life.  Christ gives richly and freely of his most precious gifts to us all.  You have the wisdom, better than the riches of Solomon, in Christ!  You have the foolishness of the Gospel, which far exceeds the wisdom of men.

And this, dear Christian, this is what reorders our thinking about all of life’s “stuff”.  We regard the blessings of this life as blessings, yes.  As Solomon says, “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God”

And yes, we use them and enjoy them, not in covetousness, but with contentment.  We receive our daily bread with thanksgiving, and acknowledge the goodness of the giver.

But we are also generous with these blessings.  Freely have we received, so we also freely give.  The Christian shares out of the abundance God has given.  It is our joy to give.  It’s even better than receiving.

And we also seek to be good stewards of the things he has entrusted to our care.  Like a manager in charge of a house while the master is away, these barns don’t belong to us anyway.  This vineyard is only on loan.  This life itself, and everything in it, all that we have is Thine alone, a trust, oh Lord, from Thee.

But these things are not where our true treasure lies.  They are not all there is.  They are not where life consists. 

The things of the world are limited, they are passing away along with everything in this fallen world. 

So build your bigger barns - for the Gospel, for the faith, for the Word of God.  Put your heart where your treasure already is, with Jesus, with knowledge and wisdom and joy, and not with much gathering and collecting.  Come and receive those treasures today in the holy Sacrament of the Altar.  Live each day in the treasure of your baptism.  And grow in the words that Jesus speaks to you, for you, those words in which are abundant life.

Sermon - Pentecost 6 - Luke 10:38-42

 

Don’t you just love it when the personalities of the people in the Bible shine through, and ring true?  Martha and Mary, the older and younger sister.  It’s almost like they’re people we know.  The older sister, who is so often concerned with running the show, doing things the right way, making sure everyone and everything is taken care of.  And the younger sister, the one who always seems to get away with murder, the one who goes her own way and isn’t so concerned about the rules and the expectations.  And no small amount of friction ensues between these two archetypes.

But whether you have an older or younger sister, whether you are even male or female, there’s a little bit of Martha and a little bit of Mary in all of us.  Martha shows us the dangers of distraction and worry, and Mary teaches us the virtue of listening carefully to the word of Jesus – the Gospel.  And Jesus teaches us that Mary has the better part.

Some commentators suggest that Martha was so busy because Jesus was there with a crowd.  Maybe even the 72 that were sent out to preach and returned rejoicing – we heard about that a couple weeks ago.  But whatever the case, Martha is caught up in “much serving”.

Martha, Martha.  Jesus repeats her name in a loving and gentle rebuke.  It’s not a harsh condemnation of fire and brimstone.  It’s not a “woe unto you” like he would say to the Pharisees.  But Martha needs some gentle correction and reminding here.  Here priorities are a little out of whack.

Which might surprise some people!  After all, what Martha was doing was good!  She was serving others, making sure everyone else is ok, everyone’s needs are met, they’re comfortable, well fed, and happy.  She’s showing the virtue of hospitality and welcoming people into her home, and playing that supportive role so that Jesus can do his teaching.

In fact, you might even sympathize with her, being a little put out that her sister isn’t helping.  Step up and do your part, Mary!  All hands on deck!  And if Mary won’t listen, then maybe Jesus will.

Don’t you care, Jesus?  Look at all the hard work I’m doing.  Don’t you care that she’s not helping?  Tell her to get off her duff and lend a hand.

But now she’s not just telling Mary what she should be doing, she’s crossing the line into telling Jesus how to run things.  Yes, Martha needs a little course correction, and Jesus gently gives it.

Notice, though, he doesn’t slam Martha’s good works.  He says Mary has chosen the better part, or the better portion.  Not that what Martha is doing is bad.  But it’s a matter of priorities.  First things first.  Martha’s got the cart before the horse.

So often Christians fall into the same sort of thing.  Serving, giving, working, sacrificing.  Doing all the Christian things that fall under “love your neighbor”.  And not even always the flashy things, but even the mundane good works like taking out the trash and making dinner.

And if the people we are serving don’t seem grateful, the hard feelings creep in.  And if we don’t feel we’re getting the help, or the respect or recognition, or that we’re being taken for granted, the resentment starts.  And all of a sudden your attempt to love your neighbor and fulfill your vocation is now just another example of you caught in sin.

Our good works of serving our neighbor – they’re good.  And we should do them.  But they’re not the better part.  They’re not the main thing for the Christian.  They are the fruits of faith.  They are the cart, not the horse.

So what did Mary choose that was better?  Well there she was, sitting at the feet of Jesus.  Listening to his teaching.  Hearing and believing his word.  The better part is the Gospel, and the faith that receives it.

Faith and works are both important for the Christian.  You can even say necessary.  But faith is the better part, for that is how we are saved.  Passively receiving the grace and mercy of God through the good news of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, the Holy Spirit works and grows faith in our hearts.  We are, in Christ, a new creation.  Created, and now re-created by him.

And there’s nothing to do, to obtain this grace, but simply receive it.  Believe it.  “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”  No works of service and love can add a single thing.  No buzzing around with the business of loving God or neighbor is what makes you a Christian.  But all of that is simply what we do because we are Christians.

Now, there’s a time and a place for everything.  And there’s a time and place for works, for much serving.  To fulfill your vocation as husband or wife, son or daughter, father or mother, friend or neighbor.  There’s a time to wash dishes and change diapers and punch the clock and mow your elderly neighbor’s lawn.

But if you’re not first sitting at the feet of Jesus, if you’re not first choosing the better part by hearing the good news of Christ crucified for sinners, then your good works are all for naught.  And if you are hearing and receiving and believing in Jesus, then you can’t help but go and serve and love your neighbor.

And what was Mary hearing?  The words of Jesus.  By this time, Jesus was on his way to the cross, full steam ahead.

He will do the one thing needful for our salvation – suffer and die for the sins of the world.  He will do what no amount of good works can even approach.  He will do it all, and do it for us.  And he has.

Martha must have listened.  For later, when her brother Lazarus died, she would have another conversation with Jesus that John’s gospel records.  And in it, some of the most beautiful, sweet Gospel there is.  And Martha beautifully confesses her faith.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[d] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

The one thing needful.  The better part.  Jesus himself, the Christ, the Son of God.  Who came into the world ,to die for the world and to save the world and promise to us a resurrection.

Don’t be distracted.  Continue to sit at his feet with Mary, with Martha, and all the other faithful believers.  Hear the word of Christ and believe.  It will not be taken from you.

And then, go, in faith, and serve, to the glory of God and the benefit of your neighbor, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen,

Sermon - Pentecost 5 - Luke 10:25-37

Sometimes I forget, and maybe you do too, that this familiar parable of the Good Samaritan is precipitated by Jesus’ conversation with the lawyer.  “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 

In many ways, this is really the main question of life, the only one that really matters.  Because this world, this life, is not permanent, and everyone should be concerned about what happens next.  Where do I go when I die?  Will I inherit eternal life?  And what must I do to make that happen? 

And this lawyer, he asks his question in terms of the law, doesn’t he.  There’s some assumption there.  That he has to do something.  I wonder what he thought Jesus would say:  “Feed the poor, and you will inherit eternal life”  or  “take care of mom and dad”  or “make sure you live in peace” or make a certain sacrifice, or say a certain prayer, or what?  Surely there must be something I can do! 

But Jesus’ answer is a bit coy, and he doesn’t spoon-feed the man.  Rather, he engages him.  He begins to teach him.   

Well, you’re a lawyer:  “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”  In a way, Jesus shows the man he already knows the answer.  Ask a question of the law, get an answer of the law. 

Love God – with all your heart and soul, strength and mind, and love your neighbor.  A succinct and thorough summary of the entire law.  A similar summary that Jesus would offer when they asked him what was the greatest commandment.  In a way, this fellow hits it out of the park with his answer.  Home run.  A plus.  Perfectly said.  Jesus says, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 

But easier said than done.  Easier to summarize the law, than to fulfill it.  Easier to recite the 10 Commandments than to keep them. 

Now the fellow gets in trouble.  Because he wants to justify himself.  So he does what a lawyer does, he looks for a loophole.  “just who is my neighbor, anyway!?” 

But hold on a minute.  Before we get to the parable, and the question of who is the neighbor.  What about Jesus’ statement, “do this and you will live?” 

That should have crushed him right then and there.  It should crush us all.  For we do not keep the commandments, and therefore we do not deserve life.  Sin has a different reward, the wages of death. 

But there’s a lot of attempts at self-justification today, too.  People try to give the commandments a haircut, trimming off the “all your heart” part and re-writing it to accept something half-hearted.  Delete “all your soul” and just make it say, “for the most part.”  And all your strength and all your mind.  Well, we can’t be held responsible for thought crimes, can we?   

There are so many ways we try to wriggle out of the law’s condemnation, its all-pervasive demands.  Sure, if we could keep it, we would live.  But we don’t keep it.  Not even close.  No matter what the little lawyer in each man’s heart tries to argue.  

Right then and there the lawyer should have pleaded guilty before Jesus, and begged for mercy.  For that’s the real answer. How do we inherit eternal life?  Only by the grace and mercy of Christ. 

Christ, who, for his part, did keep all these commandments, and perfectly.  Who did love God with his all, and loved neighbor as himself.  Jesus does what we cannot, and he does it for us, for our good. He lives a perfect life, and dies a sacrificial death to free us from the condemnation of the law, to overturn the guilty verdict, and to secure for us the inheritance of eternal life.  Jesus is the answer to the question the lawyer should have asked, not, “what must I do to be saved,” but, “since I can’t keep the law, how can I even hope to be saved?”  Only by the grace of God, in Jesus Christ crucified and risen. 

Now on to the parable.  Who’s the neighbor to the man who was beaten and mugged?  Well all were neighbors, the priest, the levite, and the Samaritan.  But only the Samaritan was a good neighbor to the man.  He helped him, tended to his wounds, paid for his care, and put the others to shame by his love and kindness. 

On one level here we have an example of loving the neighbor, and it is a good example. Be like the Samaritan, of course.  Don’t be like the priest or Levite. 

But there’s more going on here, too.  For we just showed the futility of trying to earn eternal life by our actions.  We can’t love God or our neighbor as we should, we don’t do it, and too often we don’t even want too.  We are quite often like the priest and Levite, passing on opportunities to serve others, and likely justifying our actions nonetheless. 

But here again we ponder Jesus, who is the true and ultimate Good Samaritan.   He finds us beaten and bloodied by sin, and shows us mercy.  He takes us to the inn of the Christian Church and provides for our care.  He pours on us the healing oil and wine of the Sacraments.  And he promises to one day return and settle up, which he will do on the last day. 

That road from Jerusalem to Jericho was well known to the people of Jesus’ time as particularly dangerous one.  So often did people fall among robbers there, it was actually called, “The Way of Blood.”  How fitting that Jesus comes rescue us by his own holy precious blood.  His cross is the way of blood that saves us from the blood on our own hands, and the broken commandments that earn us death.   

And it is in his loving mercy that we are taught to love our neighbor.  Indeed, only by his grace do we have the faith required to do truly God-pleasing works of love for our neighbor.   

So, Christian, you who would inherit eternal life.  Don’t try to justify yourself, for you’ll never measure up to the many “all” demands of the law.  It will leave you beaten and bloodied, as good as dead.  But look to Jesus, the Good Samaritan, and having been pulled out of the ditch by his grace, now go and likewise show mercy.  Be the good neighbor to others that he has been, and always is, to you.