Sermon 11-06-11
Matthew 25:14-29
“A Time for Richness”
“The kingdom of heaven begins in an act of divine generosity, as if a man has extravagantly entrusted extraordinary wealth, power, freedom, and responsibility to others. Like creation itself, it is a gift freely and generously given.” (Lindsay P. Armstrong, “Feasting on the Word, Year A, vol. 4, p. 309)
PRAYER
“A “Talent” was originally a monetary term, referring to a particular unit of gold or silver. Historians of language believe that the modern understanding of a talent as a gift or ability has derived directly from this parable. In Jesus’ day, however, a talent was a unit of money approximating fifteen years of earnings by a day laborer. (In the story), each of the gifts is enormous; to be entrusted with five talents was to be entrusted with more than a life time’s worth of average wages: an amount equivalent to seventy-five years of earnings by a day laborer.
Then, limiting himself so that others may have space, the master goes away, thus providing the distance and room needed for others to lead, grow, take chances and flourish.” (ibid, p.311)
That is what God has done for us and with us he has given us many different valuable talents, according to our abilities. Then God is giving us space to decide what we want to do with the talents given. The options are many, the options of investing and using them fall on our own selves.
“Here the exceptional love of God is not only shown by generosity in entrusting full talents; it is also demonstrated by God’s willingness to self-limit so that we may exist and live creatively, in the image of God. God offers (us) gifts and space so that we may be beings who have a hand in shaping talents, lives, communities, futures, and even fortunes. (and church budgets, I add). God demonstrates love, not always by doing for us, but by limiting self and letting us learn (on our own).” (Ibid).
Let us take a closer look at the characters in the story. “The master now is about to embark on a journey, he summons three slaves or (three good stewards), and trusts them with talents. The master gives different amounts (five, two and one) depending on their abilities. He takes into account his servant’s capabilities; thus he does not impose an unreasonable burden on them. Nor does the master give specific directions; rather, he allows them the freedom to take initiative.” (Thomas D. Stegman, SJ., “Feasting on the Word, Year A, vol. 4, p. 313)
Then he went away.
The first slave (or steward), takes the money to the market, to a wealth management firm, and invests in high risk ventures. The second slave (or steward), does the same thing, puts the money to work at high risk. Both do very well. Both reap the rewards of the rule of 72.” (John M. Buchanan, “Feasting on the Word, Year A, vol. 4, p. 311)
Let me tell you about “the rule of 72 which most of us have never heard of.
If your investment has a guaranteed interest of 5 percent, you divide the interest rate into 72, and the answer will be the number of years it will take to double your money. Five percent into 72 equals fourteen and half years.
If you inquire as to how risky this is, you will learn that if you want to double your money quickly, the risk escalates dramatically. In the world of venture capital, only about one out of four or five – some say- one out of ten – makes it. The other times you lose – everything.” (ibid)
Now, “the third slave (or steward), takes a different approach with his money, his one talent. He digs a hole in the ground and puts all the money in the hole for safe-keeping. In a time of stock-market decline, this man looks very wise.
This is not a bad man. This is a prudent, careful, cautious investor. He is not about to take chances with the money. It is all there, every penny of it, when his master returns. He is proud of himself. ‘Here it is. All of it, safe and sound.’
… I cannot help wondering how it would have turned out if the first two slaves had put the money in a high –risk venture and lost it all. Jesus did not tell it that way, but I cannot but imagine that the master would not have been harsh towards them, and might even have applauded their efforts. The point here is not really about doubling your money and accumulating wealth. It is about living. It is about investing. It is about taking risks. It is about Jesus himself and what he has done and what is about to happen to him. Mostly it’s about what he hopes and expects of them after he is gone. It is about being a follower of Jesus and what it means to be faithful to him, and so, finally, it is about you and me.
How important is this personally, in terms of how we live our lives?” (ibid)
Are we risk-takers, do we dare to give more, to venture into a new year with new possibilities for us as a church, yes! giving 20, 30 0r 40 % more than our last years’ pledge. Are we willing to invest in outreach, salaries, and in the challenges and changes that comes with the Ministry of a new pastor!
Or do we play it safe, taking a back seat, waiting, continuing to do things the way we always have done them, taking from Peter to pay Paul. This my friends is digging a hole for our talents.
If we give 10% of our earnings to God, the conversation about money and budget would be very different.
I know, “For most of us, religion (and) our personal faith, has not been seemed like a high risk venture. In fact, it has seemed to be more like the opposite. Faith has seemed to be a personal comfort zone. Faith, many of us think, is about personal security, here and in the hereafter. Faith, we think, is no more risky than believing ideas in our heads about God and Jesus, a list of beliefs to which we more or less subscribe intellectually. Faith, we think, because it is what we have been taught, is getting our personal theology right and then living a good life by avoiding bad things. Religion, we think, is a pretty timid, non risky venture.
Here Jesus invites us to be his disciples, to live our lives as fully as possible by investing them, by risking, by expanding the horizons of our responsibilities. To be his people, he says, is not so much believing ideas about him as it is following him. It is to experience renewed responsibility for the use and investment of these precious lives of ours. It is to be bold and brave, to reach high and care deeply.” (ibid)
At the end of the story, “the faithful two did not get higher salaries or gold watches or plaques to put on their walls. They got two things: First, they got more responsibility. “You have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things.” The reward of taking the risk and managing the investment was the burden of a greater risk and the challenge of a larger investment. But with the responsibility came a second reward: the joy of the master’s presence. As Jesus said to them: “Come and share in my joy.” The (consequences) of the third servant? He loses two things: the responsibility of being a steward and the joy of the master’s presence.” (Brueggmann, Year A, p.570)
In ending, “the parable of the talents, sets forth positive and negative examples of conduct while awaiting the return of the Lord. The master is the one who bestows the gifts abundantly, carefully distributing those gifts on the basis of the ability, giving the stewards the freedom to respond with loving responsibility and rejoicing in their fidelity.” The reward, “to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing even what they have will be taken away.” (v. 29), suggesting that the talents do, in fact enrich the recipients.” (Thomas D. Stegman, SJ., “Feasting on the Word, Year A, vol. 4, p. 313)
The parable is an invitation to an adventure for richness, faith risk taking and for a life rewarded by overflowing blessings. May it be so! Amen!
BENEDICTION
Let us go out in joy and thanksgiving.
Rejoice and be glad for God is good.
And may the love of God fill you to overflowing!
The peace of Christ surround you, and the power of the
Holy Spirit strengthen you now and forever. Amen!
