Sharing Your Talents

In Matthew 25 Jesus tells another story about what the kingdom of heaven is like. This time its like a master who gives various amounts of money to three trusted servants. Two use the money wisely by investing it but the third hides the money in the ground. When the master returns the two wise servants have doubled their money, but the 1 foolish servant has only what he had been originally given. The two are praised and broungt into the masters “joy,” while the third is scolded and cast out into the darkness. Then comes one of my favorite lines, “Where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” lol

I find difficulty with this story if its about life. The two wise servants fail to help the foolish one or to hold him accountable. That’s what we’re supposed to do in the church and it doesn’t happen. I’ve also struggled with the 10 talent man getting to keep the one talent taken away from the foolish man. Why didn’t this go to the 4 tallent man so he could have 5 (half of what his partner had)?

But then I remember this isn’t about life, it’s about the kingdom of heaven. In the kingdom the reward isn’t about how much money you have, it’s about the possibility of living in the master’s/God’s joy/presence. that’s the true reward and that was given to both servants equally. Getting into the kingdom is also something no one else can do for you. You are judged on your own merits. If you do what is right and serve God/others, the kingdom of heaven will be yours. If you take all the talents/resources God has given and do nothing to help others but only think of yourself, you won’t make it.

Jesus’ story isn’t meant to threaten or cajole us into heaven. It’s intended to make us aware that just showing up isn’t enough. You’ve got to actively play the game of life. That’s a game of service and not being served. That can be hard to do but it’s what Jesus asks of each of us.

What do you think?

That Love Thing

When the Pharisees (Lawyers) approached Jesus to test him they asked him a question concerning the Law of Moses.  These 613 different Laws ranged from the 10 commands given to Moses by God on Mt Sinai (Exodus 20) to decriptions for how to live daily live and worship God (Leviticus & Deuteronomy).   They were given to help the Israelites build community and stay in relationship with God and their neighbor.  “So which one is the most important, Jesus?”  The real question he asked was, “What school of thought do you belong to Jesus?”  If we know how to classify you then we can begin to attack what you believe.  When you understand the Law as a philosophy for living there will always be flaws.  Once we understand the flaws in Jesus’ philosophy we will be able to tear him down in the eyes of the crowds who follow him.

There was a problem with the lawyers strategy, however.  Jesus didn’t understand the Law as a philosohy for living but instead as a way of life.  Living together in relationship with God and with other people was a way to live . . . it was the essence of being, and because it was the essence of life the lawyers found no way to attack Jesus’ response:  Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself.  On these 2 lie all the Law and the Prophets (the whole scripture).  What we sometimes misunderstand is this radical statement by Jesus was actually a quote from the Old Testament and a time honored response by the Jewish theologians for the last 300 years.  But as he always did, Jesus took the law farther.

In Luke’s version (Luke 20) of the great commandment Jesus turns the question back onto the lawyer who then answers with these 2 commands.  The lawyer then goes on to ask, “So who is my neighbor?” and this leads Jesus to tell the story we know as the Good Samaritan.  The point of Jesus’ good samaritan story is that our neighbor is the one who is in need.  That love thing . . . love of God and love of others . . . is huge.  it is the foundation of our belief in Jesus as the Christ.  It is the essence for living as we grow in our relationship with God and the world.

That love thing . . . how are your doing?

Testing God

Matthew 22 presents a series of questions asked by the religious leaders of Jesus in order to trap him into saying something wrong. Groups from the Sadducees (the scribes) and the Pharisees (the lawyers) present trick questions hoping Jesus will say something to alienate the crowds that follow him. In vv. 15-22 the Pharisees bring the Herodians (Herod was king of the provience of Galilee) with them to try and get Jesus to say something against the government. The questions was, “Should we pay taxes?” What a loaded question! The taxes were levied by Rome and to pay meant to support the oppressor. To not pay was an act of seddition and would alienate the followers of Herod at least, if not get Jesus thrown in prison as a traitor. Jesus’ response is, “Whose picture is on this coin?” “Ceasar’s.” “Then give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s and to God what is God’s.” Jesus’ adversaries were amazed by his ability to turn the question back onto them.

As always, this story is loaded with innuendo. The priests refused to allow the coins of the realm to be used in the temple because they had the face of the emporor on them. they held a graven image. instead the people were forced to exchange the currency of the empire for local hebrew coins that were the currency of God (& they made money doing it). the answer Jesus gave forced the questioner to evaluate what they believed was from God and what was from the world (Ceasar). Where do you place your value? where do you place your trust? who is it that provides for you?

In life we are always being tested. we are tested by the world just as Jesus is being tested throughout Matthew 22. where will you place your trust? will you rely on God to provide for you . . . or will you turn to the world to find your answers and support? what do you think?

Embraced by Community

Luke 17 tells the story of the 10 lepers who approach Jesus and ask to be made whole.  Jesus tells them to go to the priest to be decalred clean and on the way they discover they have been made whole.  9 go on their way to the priest but 1 returns to give thanks to Jesus for the gift he has been given.  The 1 is a samaritan, an outcast according to the Jews, and he wouldn’t have been able to see the priest anyway.  even more, now that they are whole he is rejected by the other 9.  for them to stay with him would continue to make them unclean and excluded from community.  when the outcast retuns he finds Jesus embraces him into community, even though the world has rejected him.

we have people facing similar conflicts in their own life.  as long as they hang with the wrong persons they are accepted.  for instance they are accepted by gangs or by the drug culture.  when they try to change they are forced to leave their old life behind.  when they come to the 1 place they feel they should be accepted, the Church, they  often meet more resistance rather than acceptance.  that leaves them caught in limbo without any physical support, even though they never lose the spiritual support that comes from Christ.

What can we do as representatives of Jesus as we strive to be Christ-like?

Bad Tenants

Jesus faces the religious leaders of his day and says, let me tell you another story. he then goes on to tell of a landowner who plants a vineyard, sets everything up and then leases the land to tenants. he goes away and at harvest sends his servants back to collect the produce. the tenants beat & kill two different sets of servants he sends to collect. He finally sends his own son & the tenents kill him so they can steal the land. the landowner returns and puts the tenants to death and then leases the land to others.
Jesus is talking about the religious leaders but this could just as well refer to christians today. we’ve been given “the field” (world) and are told to take care of it. we are asked to reach out to our fellow humans and treat them with love and kindness. how do you think we are doing?
perhaps more important, what do WE (you) need to do different to make sure you will not be passed over in favor or some other tenant? jesus has made the call, what’s our response?

Justice isn’t Equal

it’s hard to realize that in God’s kingdom there’s a huge disconnect between what is equal and what is just.  america focuses on equality.  we strive to make sure everyone is being treated the same.  we want no child to be left behaind, whether or not they have the skills to achieve at the level of others.  the result is we have high achieving children who are being held back.  justice isn’t equal.  yes, everyone should be given an equal chance to achieve, but all should also be encourage to achieve to their greatest possible level.  justice encourges each to move beyond their own and others expectations and then justice provides the possibility for each to soar.  justice treats each one different according to their abilities but encourages all to achieve their potential.

i had a HS physics class where the teacher gave tests that were designed to show how much we knew.  these were not just to a standardized level but to everyone’s greatest potential.  i flunked the 1st test & was greatly disapointed . . . until i found out i got the higest grade in the class.  when i understood the parameters i was encourage to see how far i could go in learning not just what was being taught, but what i could learn on my own.  justice is fair and fair isn’t necessarily equal.  one person may need more help and another higher goals.  each needs to be treated on an individual basis and not lumped together as an amalgomous mass.

when we consider the kingdom of God Jesus says everyone will be treated with justice.  if you believe and profess in Jesus as the Son of God then you are part of the children of God.  everyone who believes in Jesus as the Christ is on the same footing, but we need more beyond profession of faith; we need to move to action.  we aren’t graded by God on our level of action but we are expected to share Jesus with others, each of us to our own level and ability.  we are asked to work to learn how to share and to be open to sharing.  if we don’t, there may be others who will not hear of God’s love.  they won’t be given the chance you and i have already been given.  is that fair?  is that just?

The Kingdom is Like . . .

we had an interesting bible study this morning concerning Jesus’ story of the workers in the vineyard (matthew 20:1-16).  Jesus begins saying this is what the kingdom of heaven is like, then goes on to tell the story.  a landowner goes to the marketplace and hires workers for the day.  he goes back at noon, 3 and 5 and hires more workers.  when the work stops at 6 he pays all the workers the same wage, one silver coin or enough to provide for the person for that day.  the early workers get mad and say it isn’t fair.  the landowners response, isn’t it what you agreed to work for?  why do you care how i spend my money?

so what’s the point?  we came up with several ideas.  1) the ways of God aren’t the same as the ways of the world.  fair isn’t about equal treatment but giving everyone what they need to survive.  2) the door to God is always open (6, 12, 3, & 5) and no matter when you come you are welcome.  3) the reward of God is living forever with God after death, but even more living with the peace provided by God in life.  4) when we work in God’s “field” we have the opportunity to become the hands and feet of God to help others.

so what do you think?  what the difference between justice and fairness and equality.  let me know and it might get in the sermon time.  i’m not preaching this week (women’s sunday) so you have two weeks to come up with some thoughts.  let me know what you think and how this could be used in the sermon on the 18th.  i’m looking forward to your comments.

Let the Games Begin

we are officially up and running!  hope all is well out in cyberspace.  for all you old hands at blogging be nice, i’m still a newbee.  we’ll try and add some interesting comments and thoughts.  hope you can come along and be part of the process.  it’s the hope we’ll give you some advance insights into the coming message (sunday morning) and get your responses after.  it’s all fair game.  don’t forget to check on the sermon bar to hear current and past thoughts and gleanings from our message time.  back soon . . .