Our Saviour’s United Methodist Church –
50th Anniversary visit
“Don’t Quit your Day Job”
1 Thessalonians 5
Matthew 25:14-30
Year A
Story of the store owner and the tool boxes
Once upon a time there was a man who had a construction business. The man had to go away on a long trip and so he called his three employees together and said, "I have to go on a long trip and so I am leaving you three in charge. I have put together a tool box for each of you to use to keep the business going while I am gone." The man then gave each of his employees a tool box. The tool boxes contained all the tools the employees needed to do what the man expected of them, but since the three employees didn't all have the same abilities, each toolbox was different. To the first employee, he gave a very large tool box filled with every tool that you can imagine. To the second employee, he gave a smaller toolbox, but one that still had a very good assortment of tools. To the third employee, he gave a very small tool box with just a few tools, but enough tools for the employee to do what was expected of him. The man then left to go on his trip. When he returned, he called his employees together to see what they had done while he was gone. The first employee said, "I knew that you had a great love for the homeless people of the world, so I used the toolbox that you gave me to build homes for the homeless. "That is great!" said the employer. "You have done so well that I am going to put you in charge of all new construction for the entire company." The second employee said, "I knew that you had a great love for the elderly, so I used the toolbox you gave me to fix up the homes of old people who can no longer do the work themselves." "That is wonderful!" said the employer. "You have done such a good job, that I am putting you in charge of all the repair and maintenance work for the entire company." Then he turned to the third employee and asked, "What did you do with the tools that I left for you?" "I knew that you are a very demanding boss and that you expect a lot from your employees. I was afraid that if I used the tools you gave me that one of them might get broken or that I might lose one of them and make you angry. I put the tools in a very safe place. They were there all the time you were gone. Look, here they are, just like new." "What a worthless employee you are! I didn't give you the tools for safekeeping, I gave them to you to use in my business. You are fired!" Since they had proven that they would make good use of them, he took the man's toolbox and divided the tools between the other two employees. I think this story is a good picture of what God has done in us. He has given each of us tools to use in building His kingdom. We don't all have the same tools, but God expects us to use whatever tools He has given to us. If we do, He will give us even more, but if we don't, He may take them away and give them to someone who will use them. Listen to the words of Jesus, "For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." Dear Lord, help us to be faithful in using the gifts that you have given to us to help others and to build up the kingdom. Amen.
Modern retelling of this story
What is Jesus trying to say? That is a good question
As I talked with other pastors about this passage, amazed at the different answers that I got, and no one seem to have a definite answer one way or another.
Told during stewardship and harvest time – so we look at the story through certain filters
Talent – same word in English as in Greek – but means something totally different
Talent in English, seems to come from this story – a gift from God that we make use of to make a difference in the world. Talent in Greek is a unit of silver
Talent was more money than could earn in 15 years - $100,000 of dollars
Who is the master – God, Jesus, Warren Buffet
The scripture says that the master was a shrewd man who reaped where he did not sow. Does that explain our God? Or is it Jesus. I would like to think it was someone like Warren Buffet – who had that kind of money to spare. And would be willing to give it to me.
Who are the slaves – praised, rebuked,
But what I really want us to think about is who are the slaves? One increased his investment 10 times, another 5, another not at all. Two were praised for what they had done, one was yelled at and rebuked. Who would we want to identify with?
We want to be right and do the right thing – so we identify with the 2 slaves who made money – more importantly were praised for doing good. Often times we believe that Christianity calls us to do the right thing -, to be good, to be prim and proper. But as I think about it, particularly as I have been thinking about Matthew this year. Being right all of the time and being the good guy in the story was not jesus concern at all. Afterall – the Pharisees were good and right – Jesus was challenging his followers to go a little deeper than that.
I don’t know if I can honestly say that I am always a good follower of Jesus, even though I try – but when I look at my life, and my relationship with Jesus.
More often than not I am the 3rd slave – he is the one who did the right thing
I have to be corrected, need a second chance, have to be told to think harder, living in darkness
Really not a bad thing in this story
One thing that we have lost track of in this story – is that according to Jewish understanding of life at that time – this slave did what he was supposed to do. It is not appropriate to put money in a bank and collect interest on it, this was $100,000 - he did not want to take a chance on losing it. He did what a good jew was supposed to do with something of value – bury it. Jesus even talks about the pearl of great price – being found buried in a field.
More importantly – Jesus point was that this was not about good and right behavior- but human nature – things we all do.
Story about signs of the times – period of waiting, of hoping, of incertaintly. Same things have been going on for 2000 years
This parable comes in the midst of 2 parables – all of which tell us more about the kingdom of God. What will things be like when God’s kingdom finally comes to earth. We have been waiting – for 2000 years and that day has not come. They were concerned about having to wait then and we are still concerned.
Paul talks about these times in Thessalonions.
The book of Thessalonians talks about what we should be doing in the meantime – that time of waiting for Christ to come into our lives. It was different time, but the same issue. People were tired of waiting.
Pauls message is to be prepared. In times of darkness live in the light, in times of fear live in hope, in times of waiting – be prepared
Sign of the times waiting – We are still waiting. We are in a time of hoping for life to get better. We are still waiting for Christ to return.
As a matter of fact Avent is coming. The time of preparation for Christ to come again this year.
Message of the day from both scriptures
God’s timing is a surprise – but when it comes don’t be surprised
God’s presence is something to fear – but when it comes don’t be afraid.
When we are expecting a surprise we cant function, when we live in fear we play it safe – like the third slave
Play it safe, do the right thing, do what we are told without thinking
Being a Christian involves – caring, giving, witnessing, trusting, loving, hoping involve taking a risk and making a commitment
Sometimes we are right, sometimes we are wrong – but always being faithful no matter what
3rd slave was faithful , but also had enough of a relationship in engage his master, and to learn from his mistakes.
Story of the college student
Gordon attended a small liberal arts college in the 1940’s. His transcript said that he majored in physics. But the reality was that his major was poker. Gordon traveled all over the country playing poker. He made a decent living of it – he was not rich, but he paid his way through college. Since he was on the road most of the weekend, he spent the rest of his week sleeping and strategizing. He never went to class, never cracked a book, never did any studying. And yet whenever there was a test – he always seemed to get straight A’s. One a friend asked him why he never went to class. Gordon was irritated at the question, obviously, the person did not know he was a geniuos – that he did not have to go to class or study he just knew the answer.
One day two of his professors had lunch together. They both talked about this brilliant student in their class, who seemed to ace the test, without ever coming to class. Both marveled at what a genuious this student was. Both wondered at what gifts he could give to the world if he actually took the time to apply himself and was willing to actually use his brain and his god given talent.
What have you done with God’s world and its gifts?
What have you done with your life?
What have you done with the gospel?
Wrestling with those questions, means wrestling with not with how God praises others, but what is God saying to you?
Worst you can do is nothing at all…
Amen.
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