Third Sunday of the End Times

Nov. 16, 2008

“Fearful Stewards or Faithful Servants?”
Matt. 25:14-30

“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I
will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”

In the Name of One who Is, and who Was, and who is to Come. Amen.

What is the most frightening topic you can imagine for a sermon?
Hell? Maybe.
Death and Damnation? Perhaps.
Some specific sin that hits too close to home? Possibly.
But none of these compare with the subject that many Christians
would rank at the top of their list for being least favorite and most
disturbing. I refer, of course, to the topic of Stewardship.
We really don’t want to hear the pastor harangue us about giving more
money. Especially not when we are struggling as it is in a sluggish economy
and with Christmas right around the corner. If that is the case, I have good
news for you—the sermon today, though it deals with the subject of
stewardship, is not focused solely on money—but rather on investments.
Not, however, the type you might find in your portfolio, but rather the kind
that takes you to the portal of heaven. And even more specifically for the
Christian steward, what it is that drives our investments—Fear or Faith?

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 Last Sunday we spoke of the fear that some have of the Second
Coming of Christ. Though some may be fearful of losing their lives forever
in the kingdom yet to come, it is safe to say that almost everyone, Christian
or not, is even MORE fearful of losing our livelihood in the here an now.
Every time we turn on the radio, television, or internet we are reminded of
more problems in the financial world and downturns on Wall Street.
Tuesday morning as I sat writing this sermon the talk was of the problems
with the “big three” auto makers, and the 97% drop in income for Starbucks.
Wednesday it was another big drop in the Dow.
For those of you who lived through the great depression, these times
may seem frighteningly familiar—and for those who didn’t, these troubled
waters that we are sailing are completely uncharted. So when we hear the
Master in the Gospel parable that Jesus tells today rebuking the steward who
hid his treasure rather than risking investing it on something uncertain, we
might be left scratching our heads. After all, in trying times it seems best to
do just what that steward was doing--hold onto our money—
bury it, be it literally or figuratively—
Keep it safe for ourselves.
That’s what people did during the Great depression, didn’t they? We
all have heard stories about or known someone who stashed money away in
tin cans or under mattresses, or maybe like cousin Eddy buried it in their
backyard, only to forget later where they put it.
What drives these actions? And why is that the master in the parable,
who symbolizes the Lord, is so upset by such things? It is because the
steward is controlled by fear; and a lack of faith.
We hear his fear in his own words, “Master, I knew you to be a hard
man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no

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seed, so I was afraid.” Did he have reason to fear his master? Maybe, but
ironically, no such sentiment is expressed by the two faithful stewards. Far
more likely is that this unfaithful steward perceived his master like many see
God—as harsh and vengeful rather than kind and loving. As One who
desires to see us suffer, rather than delighting in providing for our security.
Therefore he did not invest his talents, but instead horded them and
hid them away.
It makes us pause and ask if we are similar to this unfaithful steward?
Do we share his perspective on God? Do we see God as being incapable or
unwilling of providing for our every need? And have we developed that
perspective because of something that we have lacked in our lives?
Perhaps we grew up during hard times, when our there wasn’t enough
money to go around. And so we view money greedily, seeking security in it,
using it only for ourselves instead of sharing it with God and others.
Perhaps we grew up in a family where there was a lack of love. And
so we have spent our lives trying to acquire the love that we never received.
Instead of being loving and giving it to others we try to get the love from
others that we don’t have.
Perhaps our lives have been surrounded by those who never had
enough time for us. Parents who are too busy to talk, or listen. A Husband
or wife who spends more time, effort, and energy on work than they do on
their marriage. Friends who want to get together only when they really need
us. And as a result, we have adopted the idea that we don’t have enough
time for others—or for that matter God—either.
Whatever the case may be, we fear because we don’t have. And so
whatever talent or treasure the master gives us, we end up keeping it for
ourselves.

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 Dear friends, St Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy that God has not given
us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self control. This is one
example of the central message of the Gospel—namely that The Lord has
replaced fear with faith. He has done so by Himself confronting the fear that
threatens each of us.
And in 2 Corinthians we hear these words: “You know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became
poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
When The Son of God took on human flesh, He did so in love,
not fear. Indeed, there was much that He may have feared—humanly
speaking. The threats of Herod at his birth. Growing up as the son of a
carpenter in Nazareth. Being confronted by the devil—not once but on
numerous occasions. Living daily in very meager circumstances. But the
perfect love of God drives out all fear.
When the Son of God went to the cross, He did so in love, not fear.
Indeed, there were many things that He should’ve feared. The beatings and
betrayals. The scourging and suffering. The unfair accusations and public
humiliation. Even and especially all the powers of the devil and hell itself
that were arrayed against Him. But this holy, meek and sinless Lamb of God
went fearlessly forward to die on the cross. And as we behold Him there we
clearly see the perfect love of God that drives out all fear.
And then, three days later when the Son of God rose from the dead,
He called His followers to live in love, not fear. Do you remember the first
message the angel spoke to Mary? (Fear not). It was the same message that
was spoken after the resurrection. Having seen the risen Lord we see the
disciples transformed. No longer are they hiding behind locked doors,
huddling in a corner. Instead they are boldly proclaiming the Gospel, even

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when threatened with their very lives. Furthermore, they are not holding
back on the gifts that the Holy Spirit gave them, but instead are giving
generously both to God and to others. The exception, of course, is Annanias
and Saphira who were struck dead for selling property and holding back
some of the proceeds from the Lord and then lying about it. The faithful
disciples on the other hand are found constantly giving—to God and to
others—even to the point of giving their lives. Clearly the perfect love of
God drives out all fear in these first Christians, and is replaced by faith. And
He does the same for you.
You see, dear friends, the measure of God’s grace does not depend on
the economy. The amount of mercy He bestows upon you is in no way
determined by the mercy that you have, or haven’t received from others.
And the love of God in Christ Jesus which fills you means that you lack
nothing—even if you lack love from others. No matter what happens with
the economy, your health, your family or your wealth, you lack no good
thing. But in fact, it goes beyond this. For not only do we not lack, but we
have an abundance! For the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ cannot be
measured in dollars and cents. It is not dependant on what others are, or
aren’t, giving to us. For in Christ we have been given all things! The
Gospel of Jesus Christ assures us of what the father of the prodigal son’s
older brother told him—“Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is
yours!” In baptism we have been made heirs of the treasures of eternity.
Everything that belongs to Jesus has become ours. As The Holy Scriptures
assures us, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all
sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

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May we therefore live in faith, not fear. Looking forward to the day He
comes again and we hear these words: “Well done good and faithful
servant.”
In Jesus’ Name.