November 16, 2008

“Investing Your Faith”

Matthew 25:14-30; I Thessalonians 5:1-11

When my kids were little, like any responsible, patriotic, American parents, we’d take them quite often to McDonald’s. Trying to be good and stay on my low cholesterol/avoid-the-upset-stomach diet, I’d order a garden salad. The kids, they’d have the famous happy meal.

As they began enjoying their lunch, I noticed the little white bag full of golden brown fries. When I thought one of them wasn’t looking, I reached across the table and snagged a few for me. Well, before I could put them into my mouth, Sarah or Lisa or Mike would jokingly slap my forearm and say, “They’re mine, Dad!”

Sometimes at that moment, thoughts swirl through my mind. First of all, I paid for those fries. And I have the money to buy as many fries as I want. And I’m strong enough to take the fries away from the kids if I want (not anymore!).

In their childlike immaturity, my children thought that the French fries belonged to them when in reality they were a gracious and generous gift from loving parents who loved them more than they could imagine! (Do you see a sermon in here somewhere?)

Like children, we adults also often assume that everything we have is ours. We forget that all we have is a gracious gift from a God who loves us more than we can imagine. We also forget that God has the power to take away such gifts or blessings whenever he chooses for whatever reason he deems wise. God is by biblical definition sovereign and omnipotent.

One of the most brash assumptions of our humanistic, materialistic society is that we think we own everything we have. “It’s my house, my car, my body, my money, my job, my life!” The truth is that all of these things are gifts from God. God gave us the ability to see and hear; he’s given us intelligence and creativity; he gives us opportunities to work and make money. But we are mistaken when we think that we made these things happen. In reality, these things are simply entrusted to us. How different the world would be, how different the church would be if we came to the realization that God owns everything and we are simply “trustees,” “stewards” of gifts and responsibilities that God has entrusted to our care.

I. The Best Gift of All (Matthew 25)

Throughout his ministry, Jesus told stories, parables to illustrate the nature of the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God. It’s always important to remember that the meaning of the parable lies in its relationship to the gospel of the kingdom. In this parable of the loaned money, Jesus is not teaching about the stock market, financial investment, or Wall Street. He’s not even primarily talking about gifts and talents in this life to be used responsibly. Jesus is teaching about the kingdom. He’s talking about faith in God, trust in the Lord. Jesus wants us to invest our faith.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven will be like a man going on a journey (God and the long journey of creation and redemption of this world). He calls his servants (that’s us) and entrusts his property to them (that’s the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ). To one he gave five measures of faith, Christian experience, blessings in Christ. To another he gave two, to another he gave one.” And you heard the rest of the parable.

The point is: what have you done with the gospel in your life? If you have heard the message of Jesus Christ, are you investing it in every aspect of your life or is it just another nice, polite piece of traditional, comfortable, American life? Have your worship, study, fellowship and service in the Lord grown day by day, year to year, or decade to decade? Or are you still pretty much the same “Christian” you were two years ago, or five or ten? Our Savior wants us to regularly seek and gather other people to faith. Have you ever personally prayed with another person as he or she accepted Christ and the gospel for their lives?

Jesus told his parables to give us a vision for the kingdom of God becoming a reality in our lives. The prodigal son (he wants you to come home); the sheep and the goats (he wants you to help one another when in need); the wheat and the weeds (avoid judging others – just judge yourself); the sower and the seed (he wants us to be good soil for the gospel to grow); the rich fool (being rich toward God is supremely important). Jesus told these to bring the vision of God and the gospel of his kingdom from potential to reality in your life and in mine. Yes, all we have is a gift from God. It all belongs to him. But in his wisdom and grace, we are entrusted with all the blessings of life and health, family and friends, church and home, job and resources. All of it is meant to support us in our own growth of faith in Christ and in our leading others to faith in the Lord.

Have you gotten this vision for your life? Is this the vision we have for our church? As we begin to center our thoughts on a specific vision and plan for 1st Presbyterian Church over the next year, it’s my hope in Christ and my prayer to the Lord that we will encourage each other to view our lives in this way. All we have as gifts from God are to be used, shared, invested and expanded by participating in the things of the kingdom of God. Jesus calls us to invest our faith.

II. Looking Forward (I Thessalonians 5)

Vision for the future is an important factor for the people of God, for the life of the church, and for each one of us. You and I have been the beneficiaries of many visionary people who’ve made some realities in our lives quite exciting. Henry Ford envisioned every common family in the USA owning an automobile. The assembly line launched a whole new way of providing goods for everyone at a reasonable cost. Walt Disney envisioned a fantasy land where children and families could experience the magic of animation, future life, and dreams come true. Disneyland and Disney World were born and countless people have enjoyed them and have spent lots of money to visit them. The reality of personal computers, windows and internet on desktop, laptop or handheld began with vision. FedEx began with the vision: to deliver every letter and package by 10:30 the next day. Then all their energy went into designing a system with priorities to make it happen.

Well, what’s God’s vision for the church? What’s our vision for this church? More than a hundred years ago, Presbyterian-brand Christians envisioned a gospel ministry here in Salt Lake City and a beautiful Scottish Gothic Revival architecture building for worship and the study of God’s word, a place for fellowship and the launching of mission and ministry.

Over the years and today, people have worked hard to help make First Presbyterian Church a vital, vibrant, solvent church. And with the Lord’s blessing, here we are today. God has entrusted this corner of his vineyard to us. What will we do with our faith and life together in the next year or so? Will we gain five more, two more? Or will we take the one and bury it, as with those described in the parable?

We say that the purpose of the church is “to help one another love God, love neighbor and make disciples.” How’s that working for you? How are we turning that vision into reality? The apostle Paul assured us (we read it in I Thessalonians 5) that we are “children of the light and children of the day (not of darkness)… to be alert (not asleep)... putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet… to encourage one another and build each other up.”

Conclusion 

Your pastors along with our elders and ministry leaders are striving to follow the Lord’s vision for his church. We always want to encourage you to discover your gifts for ministry and then to participate in making God’s vision a reality in your lives and in the life of this congregation. In the bulletin and in our newsletter you will find multiple opportunities to grow your faith and enjoy God’s call and claim on your life.

So, I have to ask: do you see the vision that God is putting on our hearts these days? Will you invest the one, two or five portions the master has given you and multiply them for the kingdom of God? As God pours out his Spirit on us, will you fulfill the prophet’s vision? Will you older men and women dream wonderful, new dreams for the life of our church? Will you younger women and men see this vision, claim it, and work to see it become a reality? All that we have are gifts from God. We are entrusted with this gift of life. So, let’s live together for the Lord and his kingdom.

Let us pray together.