God's Word at Work

A DISHONEST STEWARD

Luke 16:1-13

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is the Gospel lesson from Luke, chapter 16, verses 1-13, particularly these words, “Jesus told his disciples, ‘There was a rich man whose manger was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ and “You cannot serve both God and Money.”This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. Today’s Gospel lesson presents us with a very confusing parable. Again we must remember that a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” But what is the heavenly meaning this time that we can relate to? Is it that we should be very wise and even crafty — maybe even a little underhanded in the way we deal with money?? After all, the dishonest servant is commended by his master for his “craftiness”. Jesus gets to the bottom line and the lesson in the last words of today’s text. He said, “You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Now, money is something that is very important. All of us have to deal with money. Whether we have a business to run, a job to perform, or just a checkbook to balance each month — all of us have to deal with money in our every day lives. With money we provide housing, food, transportation, and all the necessities of life. Money is important.

But, we can view this money in our lives several ways. One way is to see it as a gift from God’s hand — a blessing given to us from God to provide for your families and ourselves, as well as a means to serve God by serving other people. Money can be a tool which is used to accomplish good in our lives and in the lives of others — a tool used to serve God from whom all blessings flow.

Another way to view this money is to see it take control of one’s life. For a lot of people Money drives their entire world. Every decision they make, every action they take, every task they perform is based on how much money it will generate or loose. Money becomes an obsession. Money becomes their God!! The Old Testament lesson for today talked about this view of money and gave a very serious warning about it. It said, “Hear this , you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, saying ‘When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?’ — skimping the measure, boosting the price, and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat. The Lord has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done.”

It is this obsession with money which Jesus is speaking of in today’s Gospel lesson and parable as he sums up his lesson saying, “You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Knowing the lesson, how do we now interpret this parable? Jesus makes a distinction between “the people of this world,”and “the people of the light.”Both the dishonest manager, and his master are examples of people of this world. The master is pleased that his servant is so crafty. They have a goal in life — to be comfortable in this life. Their only concern is about here and now, and meeting their own physical needs and wants in any way possible — even if that is by “hook or crook”. So the momentary gain is for this temporal life and is short lived. That was the goal of the dishonest manager. He said in the text, “What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg — I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.”Would they welcome him forever — of course not!! But it would be a temporary situation until he could get something else worked out. He was seeking immediate relief in this world and this life.

When Jesus explains the parable he said, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into ETERNAL dwellings.”Who is it that offers ETERNAL DWELLINGS — certainly not this world and certainly not the people of this world!!! Only God himself offers eternal dwellings. So you could paraphrase that verse to say, “Use worldly wealth to please God, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into ETERNAL dwellings.”Of course the law reminds us that we are sinners and fall short of God’s expectations of us. And the Gospel reminds us that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again so that we might have eternal life in heaven. Heaven is not ours because we spend our money wisely — heaven is ours because Jesus Christ is our Savior. This verse then deals not with our justification — but with our sanctification — with how we live our lives as the children of God – NOT how we become Children of God.

Jesus is saying in this parable, “Where are your priorities? Do you look beyond the moment and the gratification of very temporary wants and needs or do you look to the future — to Eternity?

I said before that money can be a tool — a tool that a child of God can use to provide for the basic needs of the individual and the family — and also to give glory to God’s holy name. The text said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”And so in this world God entrusts to our care part of his creation. He puts us in charge of certain blessings that He himself bestows upon us. Today’s text deals with money — but being stewards, or managers, of God’s gifts to us reaches beyond the money God gives, to the time that he gives us, and to the talents that he shares with us, and to the abilities that he gives us, even to the very life that he gives. How do we use that which he gives? He is the master of all that we have and we are the managers — the stewards of his abundant blessings.

We can be selfish, like the dishonest servant in the parable and use God’s blessings to our own advantage — or we can be faithful stewards of the blessings of God and use them to God’s glory and to the welfare of others.

Remember Jesus warning in the text, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

So where do your priorities lie? Are they with temporal matters of this world? Or are they with God? Are you worried about the here and now? Or the “here-after”? Is Money a tool which you use to serve God and others? or is money your master which rules over your life and controls your life?

May the grace and strength which God gives, guide and direct us as we manage the blessings and gifts God has given us, and may our Lord and King, forgive our short comings and bless our efforts as we give Glory to his Holy Name through all the gifts he gives to us. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

Luke 14: 25-33

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 14, verses 25 through 33, but particularly these words: “IF ANYONE COMES TO ME AND DOES NOT HATE HIS OWN FATHER AND MOTHER AND WIFE AND CHILDREN, AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YES, AND EVEN HIS OWN LIFE, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. ” This is our text.

In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dear Christian friends. The story is told of a pastor who had just finished putting the weekly notices on the outside bulletin board in front of the church. The message for the week was the Bible verse; “The wages of sin is death.”As the pastor walked away, he noticed a drunk stagger past the church and stop to read the sign. Not seeing the pastor, the man went weaving on down the sidewalk muttering to himself, “Well, that’s one price that hasn’t gone up!”

In spite of his drunken state, that man never spoke a truer word. When it comes to the cost of sin, no inflation is possible. That’s because sin — any sin — little sin or big sin — demands the ultimate payment — and that is eternal death. The price just can’t go any higher than that — there is no higher price. And the price will never get any lower, because that is one of God’s unchangeable laws — “The soul that sins, it shall die.”We might convince ourselves that we can get away with sin, but God, who sees everything, knows our sin.

There is only one way that we can avoid the wages of sin. There is only one way we can find forgiveness for our sins — and that is to look to the cross of Jesus Christ. The same verse that tells us that “The wages of sin is death”also tells us that “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In order to avoid the wages of sin — we must put ourselves in the loving forgiveness of Jesus Christ. He died our death for us. He paid the price for our sins. He set us free. He has given to us the promise of eternal life.

But before we get the idea that since we are forgiven, we now have a free joy ride for life — we had better take a closer look at today’s text. Our text for today warns us that there is a price tag on being a follower of Jesus Christ. And what is more, that cost can skyrocket at any moment. The cost of discipleship can be so inflated that the prices of gas and the prices of groceries will seem like nothing by comparison. And that is where a problem develops for many Christians. When discipleship, following Jesus, starts costing them something — they default. One might get the idea that they think that the wages of sin would be cheaper than the cost of following Christ.

To a great extent that is what is happening in churches all over the world this day. People want their names on the roles — but don’t want to be involved in anything. People sign up for church — but don’t attend worship. Somehow they get the idea that God is looking at church records – and NOT the heart!

Our text is a very timely one — because all around us we see people who are looking for a religion of convenience. They want a faith that doesn’t cost them anything. People of our day and time are looking for a cheaper kind of discipleship than what Jesus demands of his followers. Of course, we’re not JUST talking money — we’re ALSO talking about time and talents — we’re talking about training of our children — we’re talking about Bible study and fellowship,– we’re talking about service to God and man done together. When we are asked to serve — too often the excuse is — “I don’t have the time.” What we’re really saying is — “The cost of discipleship is too high for me. Something else is more important.”

In our text Jesus tells us that one of the problems which leads to the rising cost of discipleship is that many people misread the price tag to begin with.

No one today, would try to build a three bedroom house with only $10,000 of financing available. That much might buy you a small lot in a “not to prestigious” neighborhood. But it certainly would not pay for slab, and walls, and wiring, and plumbing, painting, cabinets, and all the other things it takes to build a house. Jesus said in our text, “Which of you desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to mock him.”In our text, Jesus also used the example of a king about to go to war. No king would attack an enemy without first finding out how many soldiers the enemy had ready for battle.

A lot of people join the “Christian side” because they think that is the easy way out. Our text tells us point blank — that the Christian life will be a costly life for a follower of Jesus.

I know the bible says that the “Gift of God is eternal life.” But with that gift also comes certain responsibilities. Jesus described it pretty well when he described his own life’s work and purpose, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”God did not give to you and to me the free gift of eternal life so that we might sit back and enjoy life — but rather, he made us his disciples, by grace, so that we could serve him and our fellow man.

The German Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, wrote a book during World War II called, “THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP.” And only a few months later, he was executed by Hitler’s men. He was ready to pay the price of discipleship. Persecution has marked the history of the church from the very beginning as the early prophets, apostles and Christians were ready to suffer even death rather than to deny their Lord and Savior. As Jesus said in our text for today, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his cross, cannot be my disciples.”

A man stopped at the grocery store and asked for a quarters worth of tomatoes. But the clerk told him they could not cut the tomatoes, he would have to buy at least one whole one. That kind of inflation also affects our cost of discipleship. It costs more to be a Christian today than it did 10 or 15 or 20 years ago. There is so much more violence and immorality in our society today. There is NO respect for the authority of teachers in the classroom, or of policemen on the street, or of Pastors in the pulpit, or of any other person of authority any more — everyone is their own personal authority. Television shows, movies, magazines, and other media throw trash at us and our children day in and day out. The evil world has more influence on people today than the church has, because of peer pressure. It has always been hard to maintain our Christian faith because of the Devil, the World, and our own sinful flesh. But in my humble opinion, it is more costly to be a Christian today, then it has been in the past. The percentage of Christians in the world is dropping fast. There are more of them – and less of us each day. But the cost can go higher still. ARE WE READY FOR THE HIGHEST COST? Jesus said, “Whoever of you does not renounce all that he has, cannot be my disciple.”

Is Christianity worth the cost. You have a Savior who loves you and died for you. You have a God who gave you life and preserves your life. You have God’s promise that he who believes and is baptized shall be saved. You have God’s promise of eternal life — beginning now — and lasting forever and ever.

I have a needlepoint hanging at home that my mother did for me years ago. It is a picture of Jesus with these words, “I never promised it would be easy — just that it would be worth it.” That is the lesson from today’s text. To God be the glory. Amen

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

THE NARROW DOOR
Luke 13:22-30

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 13, verses 22 through 30, particularly these words, “Someone asked Jesus, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you.’” This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Dear Christian friends. What is the purpose of the Church? Why does the church even exist? There are several answers to that question. One important purpose of the church is nurture. We gather for worship and for Bible study so that together, through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit can build us up in our Christian faith. The church exists so that we can strengthen Christian faith and love within the family of God through word and Sacrament. Our Christian fellowship and our Christian service play an important part in that nurture.

But there is also another very important purpose for the existence of God’s church — and it would be easy to argue that this is the MOST IMPORTANT TASK or PURPOSE of the church — and that is to proclaim the Gospel so that unbelievers are brought to faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. This was what our Lord commanded of his Disciples in the great commission, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” “GO making disciples—- by BAPTIZING them – and by TEACHING them.!!” Those were the commands that Christ left with his disciples and with his church.

Our Gospel lesson today deals with the question of Evangelism. One of the people with Jesus asks him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” We are not told why the question was asked. Did that person wonder why there were not more people following Jesus? Was there a question about why so few people recognized him as God’s Son, and the promised Messiah? Were they thinking about this trip to Jerusalem, and thinking that now, at long last, Jesus would gather together his mighty army of followers, to overthrow Rome? The question basically says, “Jesus, there are only a few of us who believe in you — will there be more, or is this all there is?”

Jesus did not answer the question directly — instead he gave a command to the questioner: “You make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to.” Jesus tells his hearers that first of all they need to make sure that they themselves will be among those who are saved by entering through the narrow door. Jesus made it very clear throughout his earthly ministry, that he himself was that narrow door. Jesus told them, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Jesus was not conducting classes in theory — but was dealing with the only way people could be saved. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus never taught a general salvation where all people were saved. Nor did he teach a limited salvation which would be restricted to only a select group, race, or nationality. But he consistently called upon all people to enter the kingdom of heaven through Himself. He is the narrow door — and there is no other door to heaven.

In our text, Jesus emphasizes this point. He said, “Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer I don’t know you.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoer’s!” Jesus makes it clear that no one is received into God’s kingdom based on something they did. No one is saved by just listening to Jesus teach in the streets. No one is saved by eating and drinking a dinner with Jesus. No casual acquaintances are accepted. Entering the narrow door takes a faith-filled commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

I sometimes wonder, on that last day just how many people will say to Jesus, “We were in church every Christmas and every Easter, wasn’t that enough?” “We went to church when there wasn’t something else to do. Wasn’t that enough?” We were never unfaithful to our spouse, we never beat our kids, and we were certainly much better than Old John Doe the drunk, who lived down the street. Wasn’t that enough?” And Jesus will reply, “Even if you had perfect church attendance — even if you gave everything you had for the poor — even if you were the best person in your whole town — WITHOUT FAITH — without entering by the narrow door — IT IS NOT ENOUGH!! Why?? “For by grace have you been saved through faith, it is a gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast.”
And our last point from this text is that there is a certain urgency — not only for those who will follow Jesus, but for the whole world. Jesus talks about the closing of the door — and once closed, it will not be reopened. There is a time limit to this world and there is a time limit on the invitation to salvation in Jesus Christ.

And when that door is closed, there will be some surprises in store. Jesus said in the text. “People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and there are those who are presently first, who will be last.” God sees what you and I cannot see — the heart of humankind. God judges on the basis of faith found in those individual hearts. And that will produce some surprises on that last day. Some of those that we have judged by our human standards to be outstanding citizens and “First” in the kingdom of God — will be last — because God knows the heart. And then the opposite is true as well. Some of those that we have judged rather harshly by human standards, will be first in the kingdom of God — again, because God knows the heart.

That is why Zion Lutheran puts such an emphasis on Christian Education – through our early Childhood Center, through our Sunday School, through our Bible studies offered regularly and at different days and times of the week, through different service groups within the church who serve the church and others: Always proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We must proclaim the message, we must get the Word out, because there is a time limit to this world.

Throughout our text for today, the focus keeps coming back to Christ. There is one door, and one door only, into the Kingdom of God. That door is very narrow, because it allows no one to enter carrying his own baggage of personal goodness and merit. Each person entering that door must be doing so as a result of a close, personal relationship with the savior, a faith created by God the Holy Spirit, a faith created, nourished, and strengthened through the means of Grace, through Word and Sacrament — A casual acquaintance with Jesus is not enough. The response is urgent and cannot be postponed. No one knows when the door will be closed, but when it is closed, it will not be reopened – there is no second chance. And those who will be saved will come from all nations around the world.

So what does today’s text say about Evangelism. First of all, make sure of your own faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. After all, if you do not believe it yourself, you can not share it with others! And then, cut to the heart of the message — Jesus Christ is Lord!! Jesus is the Narrow door. There is salvation in no other. But in Jesus Christ, there is joy eternal. That is our faith. That is our message. That is our hope for eternal life. To God alone be the glory, now and always. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.