Sermon on Luke 12:32-40; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
By Revd Gordon Thomas
MAKING CHOICES
Luke 12:32-40
32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 "But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." [NRSV]
32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 "But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." [NRSV]
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. ...8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore." 13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them. [NRSV]
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. ...8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-
WHAT'S YOUR TREASURE?
This week has reminded me what I know anyway: that life is extremely unpredictable; it takes us by surprise and we have to adapt. That's true for all of us at certain times in our life. But that means it's essential to be ready; to be prepared; to know what we believe, or we'll be knocked right off course perhaps for good. It's in the quiet, calm times that we need to think through our relationship with God and with each other. It's in those times that we must think through what's important: what Is our treasure because, as Jesus says today, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. If we know what fills our heart, we know what drives us; what makes us tick.
I wonder how you answer. You're welcome to tell me sometime and we can talk, if you want to. But you do need to be straight with yourself and God. If we're going to be right with God we must be straight with Him and not try to kid Him: because we can't!
Anyway what is your treasure; that thing or person which has captured your heart? What is your passion? Your family; your home; your work; your hobby; sport; politics; friends; the car; your holiday; the telly; books; music; food; clothes; yourself? What do you find yourself thinking about; planning for; spending money or energy on? Answer honestly and you'll be closer to answering the question what is your treasure? Where is your heart?
Where's GOD?
We're in the middle of three, hard, readings in Luke's gospel where Jesus is clear. We must choose. Either put our trust in selfish, superficial material comfort and security for happiness and contentment: cling onto it, or we may lose it. We can put our trust in these things, knowing deep down that they may well bring anxiety, stress or superficial and self-centred lives. Or we can trust God. Last week we heard God say you fool to the rich farmer, in essence because he chooses selfishness, not God. He is a fool because he doesn't see that God not selfishness is in control. He is a fool because the security he thinks he has is anything but. Today Jesus tells us in contrast to the farmer to sell our possessions and give to the poor. I don't think he necessarily means us to give away literally everything. But he is challenging us to take on the wisdom of the world: to do what the world, but not God, would think is the action of a fool and get rid of what separates us from God; travel light. Trust Him.
FAITH
The 11th chapter of the letter to the Hebrews is about people who do trust God; who have faith in Him. Today we it's about Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob. Read the whole chapter and see other Old Testament giants all of whom have faith in God. But they weren't giants once: they were ordinary, failing people. They still were after they trusted God. But they did trust Him and he used them for wonderful things.
Faith in Hebrews is linked with hope. Faith looks at God, trusting Him for everything. Hope looks to the future, trusting God for it. So hope underpinned by faith gives assurance. I may hope that after I die there's a better life but unless I have faith in the resurrected Jesus it'll be wishy-washy optimism; or I may hope for a better world but unless I believe in a God of justice and mercy I shall burn myself out in frustration.
The writer decides to simplify all this and just lists these ordinary people and the extraordinary things God achieves through their faith. Abraham and Sarah in their old age and infertility give birth not just to a son but to a nation. They trust God in the present and for the future and in their ridiculous old age, (Abraham is as good as dead!) the family they long for is born and so is a nation. And as if that's not enough they die before they see everything God promises fulfilled. No wonder God is not ashamed to be called their God. God's not like a parent coming home with his boss, appalled by the appalling sight of his scruffy teenage child sprawled over the settee dropping crisps over the carpet with the music on full belt! No: God honours His children who have faith in Him. He promises them a share in the heavenly city: not the Jerusalem of the first or of the 21st centuries but the New Jerusalem with Him. Of course we still let God down but for those who have faith in Him he is not ashamed to be called their God.
END
These readings are not easy: they are depressing, even bad news if we want to cling to a life where things or people keep us from a close relationship with God. They are the most wonderful good news if in them we see God's unending love for us; if we see the freedom that He gives us to put on one side what holds us from Him. Nothing here means a miserable or busy life. It's the opposite. Clear the clutter away; have time for God and for those around you. It's not that we'll get everything right. That's not the point. It's not that we'll be totally ready for God; there will always be some things we wish were not so. The point is, are our priorities right? Do we have time for God and for each other? Are our lives centred on Him? If I go on holiday and forget my spare shirt that's not the end of the world; I can get another one. But if I forget my passport that's another matter. If I forget the document that tells them who I am that might be the end of the world. Some things matter and others don't. The call of the Jesus is to make sure we are focussed on what does. Jesus says choose life in all its fullness not in all its superficiality.
God's not ashamed of us: the question is: how does that square with where I hold my treasure?
AMEN
This week has reminded me what I know anyway: that life is extremely unpredictable; it takes us by surprise and we have to adapt. That's true for all of us at certain times in our life. But that means it's essential to be ready; to be prepared; to know what we believe, or we'll be knocked right off course perhaps for good. It's in the quiet, calm times that we need to think through our relationship with God and with each other. It's in those times that we must think through what's important: what Is our treasure because, as Jesus says today, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. If we know what fills our heart, we know what drives us; what makes us tick.
I wonder how you answer. You're welcome to tell me sometime and we can talk, if you want to. But you do need to be straight with yourself and God. If we're going to be right with God we must be straight with Him and not try to kid Him: because we can't!
Anyway what is your treasure; that thing or person which has captured your heart? What is your passion? Your family; your home; your work; your hobby; sport; politics; friends; the car; your holiday; the telly; books; music; food; clothes; yourself? What do you find yourself thinking about; planning for; spending money or energy on? Answer honestly and you'll be closer to answering the question what is your treasure? Where is your heart?
Where's GOD?
We're in the middle of three, hard, readings in Luke's gospel where Jesus is clear. We must choose. Either put our trust in selfish, superficial material comfort and security for happiness and contentment: cling onto it, or we may lose it. We can put our trust in these things, knowing deep down that they may well bring anxiety, stress or superficial and self-
FAITH
The 11th chapter of the letter to the Hebrews is about people who do trust God; who have faith in Him. Today we it's about Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob. Read the whole chapter and see other Old Testament giants all of whom have faith in God. But they weren't giants once: they were ordinary, failing people. They still were after they trusted God. But they did trust Him and he used them for wonderful things.
Faith in Hebrews is linked with hope. Faith looks at God, trusting Him for everything. Hope looks to the future, trusting God for it. So hope underpinned by faith gives assurance. I may hope that after I die there's a better life but unless I have faith in the resurrected Jesus it'll be wishy-
The writer decides to simplify all this and just lists these ordinary people and the extraordinary things God achieves through their faith. Abraham and Sarah in their old age and infertility give birth not just to a son but to a nation. They trust God in the present and for the future and in their ridiculous old age, (Abraham is as good as dead!) the family they long for is born and so is a nation. And as if that's not enough they die before they see everything God promises fulfilled. No wonder God is not ashamed to be called their God. God's not like a parent coming home with his boss, appalled by the appalling sight of his scruffy teenage child sprawled over the settee dropping crisps over the carpet with the music on full belt! No: God honours His children who have faith in Him. He promises them a share in the heavenly city: not the Jerusalem of the first or of the 21st centuries but the New Jerusalem with Him. Of course we still let God down but for those who have faith in Him he is not ashamed to be called their God.
END
These readings are not easy: they are depressing, even bad news if we want to cling to a life where things or people keep us from a close relationship with God. They are the most wonderful good news if in them we see God's unending love for us; if we see the freedom that He gives us to put on one side what holds us from Him. Nothing here means a miserable or busy life. It's the opposite. Clear the clutter away; have time for God and for those around you. It's not that we'll get everything right. That's not the point. It's not that we'll be totally ready for God; there will always be some things we wish were not so. The point is, are our priorities right? Do we have time for God and for each other? Are our lives centred on Him? If I go on holiday and forget my spare shirt that's not the end of the world; I can get another one. But if I forget my passport that's another matter. If I forget the document that tells them who I am that might be the end of the world. Some things matter and others don't. The call of the Jesus is to make sure we are focussed on what does. Jesus says choose life in all its fullness not in all its superficiality.
God's not ashamed of us: the question is: how does that square with where I hold my treasure?
AMEN
Rev Gordon Thomas © 2007