Stewardship’s
Twin
Back in 1994, I was engaged to an Australian woman while
in the Air Force. I specifically
remember one conversation about future plans and dreams. There was a distinct difference between our
styles. Mine was one that was planned and
deliberate while she had a more adventurous ‘living in the moment’ approach.
Anyway, one day she asked, “What is the worst thing that
could possibly happen to you?” After
thinking about it for a while, I responded, “Probably losing my home and
job.” She thought for a moment and
asked, “Don’t you have homeless shelters in America?” I said yes.
She continued, “So there is an option for a roof over your head and a
meal, right?” Again I said yes. “So that’s the worst thing that can
happen?”
My
mind began thinking about those words as I came back with another option. “Maybe the worst thing would be sentenced to
jail.” Again she straight-forwardly
pointed out, “In a place where you have protection from the elements, three
meals a day, clean water for drinking and bathing, and the ability to be seen
by a doctor if ill. That’s the worst
thing that can happen?” It was like I
had been punched by a left hook and right uppercut. Trying to find my balance after being hit by
those comments, she looked directly at me before delivering the knockout, “I
think the worst thing for you would be to lose your pride.”
While
I was concerned about planning and controlling my future, my fiancé had the
approach of living for the day. Whatever
comes today, she will make the most of it.
She doesn’t worry about 6 months, 5 years, 15 years from now. She and her husband are extremely happy
without relying on financial resources to bring them fulfillment and security.
The
difference between me and her was similar to that of Abraham and Lot. Lot was attracted to the security of the lush
Jordan Valley for his family, servants, and animals. Abraham and Sarah’s half on the other hand, had
no choice but to trust in the security of God’s will and calling. Possessions or Relationship? Where is our security and where is
discipleship?
The Gospel
text that I am using today is a parable, a story (a teaching tool) told by
Jesus, maybe literal but most likely not, explaining the kingdom of God. The theme of this parable is found in verse
15, “Be on guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in
the abundance of possessions.” And in this
text, Jesus confronts us with straight up, no nonsense, no beating around the
bush questions. They can sting the ego
and pride, just like my original example.
The
Rich Fool in today’s parable wasn’t chastised for the act of building bigger
barns but rather for his greed. He said
to HIMSELF, “there I will store all my grain and my goods and I will say to my
soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, and
be merry.”
What
the Fool didn’t know what that he was going to be dead the next night. What good was all that time and effort
chasing worldly possessions? He didn’t
get it. Is the purpose of life simply
earning and living in financial security?
Where is our trust when the stock market crashes or when we learn of an
unknown health condition? Is our primary
concern in this life related to resources or relationships?
In
every parable regarding money, Jesus says, how can you store up all these goods
for your long-term future when my people are suffering in your community today?
Jesus says blessed are those who have
little and we tend to believe blessed are those who have much. What does that say about our relationship
with Christ? It begs the question, is
our priority the relationship or is it programs and activities?
In
most congregations, there is more emphasis put on the activities and relationships
between the members than there is on the relationship with Christ. Pastor Charles Lane writes, “Let
me say it as clearly as I can: Your
congregation’s stewardship ministry is first and foremost about making and
growing disciples. You need to be about
the business of helping God’s people grow in their relationship with their Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. When this is
the primary goal of your stewardship ministry, having enough money to pay the
bills will not be a problem. Most of us
are far more inclined to talk about the activities of our congregation than we
are to talk about how Jesus is active in our lives. The dominant church paradigm continues to be
about membership, not discipleship (Ask, Thank, Tell, p. 12-13).”
Pastor
Lane points to Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve God and wealth.” Jesus makes it clear in that short
sentence. It is one or the other. Period.
Are we more concerned about finances or nurturing our relationship with
Jesus? When we have wealth (and in
comparison to the world, if you are here today you are wealthy), it becomes the
object of our trust and it literally replaces Jesus Christ, who is the only
worthy object of a believer’s trust.
Someone
recently mentioned, should we feel guilty about wealth? Absolutely not! We are reminded that the wealth is not ours,
but a blessing from God to manage. Our
blessings are reasons to be thankful, therefore giving abundantly of ourselves
and our resources with joyful hearts. In the act of discipleship, we are nurturing relationship
with Jesus. It’s less about looking out
for our own long-term security and more about giving to those in need TODAY.
I’m
going to close with another quote from Pastor Lane.
“Discipleship contrasts sharply with membership. When we talk about discipleship, the primary
relationship is not with the congregation.
The primary relationship is with Jesus.
The congregation is the community of people with whom this relationship
is lived out and nurtured. The role of
the disciple, then, is to grow deeper in Jesus and to tell others about
Jesus. Giving [generously of ourselves
and GOD’S resources] is part of growing that relationship with Jesus
(P.14-15).” Amen.