Date: October 13, 2024

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon Title: “You Can’t Take It with You”

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Bob Jon

You can also listen on Podcast from iTunes and Spotify. Search for “Podcasting from Rev. Bob Jon.”

Some years ago, a woman contacted me asking if she could donate her mattress to the church, as my former church collected the old furniture like bed, mattress, drawer and tables, and distributed to those who were in need. So, I told her I would be happy to help her and brought two more men from the church. Well, when we entered her apartment, the place was full of stuff. Unfortunately, her bed was not in a condition to be used by others. So, we had to take the mattress to the dumpsite. Then, she asked us to take a few more things including a giant fish tank. The day of collecting the mattress somehow turned into a day of cleaning her apartment. I still remember the image of her room full of stuff I presumed she did not need, and she would never use.

I do not share this story to criticize this woman for her management or being a hoarder. As a matter of fact, I am a little like her myself in that I have been collecting many stuffs I do not need but have a hard time of letting them go. I arrived in Boston in 2004 with only two luggage. After the first year, every student in the dormitory had to move out and I remember it was relatively easy because I did not even have the bed, couch, or TV. But now when the bishop appoints me to a new church, my wife and I get quite stressed out because we have to pack all the boxes, including the books that I have kept from my seminary years. Just imagine you have to move to a new house or apartment by the next month. What will you keep and what will you get rid of? 

In our reading from Matthew, Jesus gives a parable to teach what it means to be a faithful steward. As the master is about to go on a journey, he called his three servants and entrusted his property to them. The first one, he gave five talents, to another two talents, and the last one one talent. It is important to notice that the master gave these talents according to their ability. So, the first servant went off with the five talents and got into business using them and made five more talents. The second servant went and did the same, doubling the two talents. But the last one went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. After the master came back, he sat down with these servants to hear how they did. The master compliments the first two servants but judges the last one.               

I will be honest with you. For some time, I did not appreciate this parable of Jesus. Jesus, in the first place, you treated these servants unequally by giving them different amounts of talents. So, that is not fair. Secondly, the last one at least did not lose the property of his owner. At least, he played it safe by burying it in the ground. So, the master, after all, did not lose any property. So, what is the problem with that? At least, you can predict the future. We anticipate the result to be secure. The result is predictable. Isn’t it what we all want? If you are still working and paying the pension for your retirement, would you want your company to use your pension aggressively with the possibility of losing it or preserving it conservatively?  

 Here is a thing about the parables. Jesus used the parables as a window to glimpse into what the kingdom of God is like and who God is like to us. I don’t think Jesus is telling us to go out and use our money and possessions to double them and enjoy the profit. But the lesson here is that the master gave his talents to his servants for a purpose. Don’t bury it. Don’t waste it. But utilize it to please the master. As we sing in our doxology, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,” all our talents, our possessions, and even our time come from God, who generously bless all God’s creations. In the eyes of the world, we can debate who has more and who has less. But God is God who gives all our talents, all our beings, and all our life today. 

James Moore is a Methodist pastor known for some brilliant titles for his books. He has written, “Yes, Lord, I have Sinned, but I Have Several Excellent Excuses,” and “God Was Here, and I Was Out to Lunch.” “Lord, Give Me Patience, and Give It to Me Right Now!” “If God Is Your Co-Pilot, Swap Seats!” You can smile as you imagine what these books might say about certain topics. But one of my favorite titles is “Have You Ever Seen a Hearse Pulling a Trailer?” Moore says the book title came from a bumper sticker he saw the other day. He says in his book, “You can’t take it with you when you die. You can’t take the earthly things you have accumulated with you when you die, so you had better not put your trust and confidence in material things.” 

We all can agree with the title, but we often find it difficult to accept, especially in times of fear and uncertainty. While working at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, I walked into a cancer patient’s room to provide some pastoral care and presence. As soon as I introduced myself as a hospital chaplain, the patient wanted to talk about all his possessions, how many houses he owned and still expanding, the cars he owned, and his boat. And yet, when I asked him if he had anyone who was coming to see him later, he told me he had no one. I did not ask him whether he was divorced or his relationship with his children got strained. But I thought he was one of the richest people I had ever met and yet the loneliest person ever. 

Here is a thing about this parable. The master gives one talent to the last servant. it is insightful to know that one talent is a large sum of money, “equal to the wages of a day laborer for fifteen years.” Some commentators believe one talent in today’s world could amount to one million dollars. So, when the master gave the last servant one talent, he actually trusted his servant that he could manage such a large amount of money. The Gospel tells us that the master gave his property to his servants according to their abilities. It indicates an intimate relationship between the master and his servants because he knows their capabilities. He intimately knows them to the point that one could experience growth instead of break-down when pushed to face challenges.  

And Jesus implies God as our master who knows what we are good at and what we are not good at. God, who created us in God’s image and calls us God’s children, is the One who knows where we can grow and how we can grow in our love for God and God’s people. And God gives us all talents and gifts. God may not instruct us how exactly to use our talents and gifts. As each servant must decide how to use his time during the master’s absence, we are also called to discern how to use our talents and gifts until Christ comes back in his final glory. Faithfulness is not merely obedience to directions. Rather, faithfulness means responsible discipleship. The grace of God is a gift given to us that we did not earn. But it is our responsibility of what we do with the grace of God.

Since it is God who gives us our talents, God encourages us to use our talents and gifts to bless God, who is the source of all our blessings. When I was a seminarian, I attended a predominantly black church in Boston. One day, the church lost its musician. All of a sudden, I was invited to play black gospel music. So, I went to a music store and bought a bunch of black gospel singers’ CDs. And my playing there on Sundays challenged me to improve my musical skills in a new way. Now I am a pastor, I can just bury my ability to play the music. But I wish to use it so I can share the joy of playing for God and playing with our wonderful music pastor. Kelly and Janet are here from South Carolina. And I am grateful every time Kelly is here, she always shares her musical talents with us. 

However, the last servant plays it safe by burying his talents. Our lives as Christians could also be about playing safe, convenient, and predictable. People could just gather for worship service and share some fellowship inside but never dared to go out to the world to face the challenges, hardships, and struggles. Some time ago, I met members of a church that was struggling in many ways. I happened to preach there as a guest preacher. As I looked around, I saw only one or two children. Despite what looked like a dire situation, I learned that the church had accumulated quite a large amount of money by merging with other Methodist churches that closed their doors. As they were sitting on over a million-dollar endowment, the leadership refused to use it because they said, “Well, we hope this money will help us to keep the door open for the next 20 years.” 

In his sermon, “The Use of Money,” John Wesley distinguishes between a debtor and a steward. You see, a debtor must return what he or she has received. But until they need to make the payment, they are free to use the loan as they please. But Wesley says that a steward is different. The steward is not at liberty to use what is lodged in their hands as they please, but as their master pleases, who alone is the possessor of heaven and earth, and the Lord of every creature.” James Harnish comments that according to Wesley, “we are called to be faithful stewards of our souls, our bodies, our speech, our hands and feet, our talents, our time, and specifically, our money.”

These past two weeks have been pretty busy, but they have filled my heart with joy and gratitude. Last Sunday, after the worship service, we brought our youth group to Canobie Lake Park. We had 22 people—5 adults and 17 children. I will be honest with you. I don’t like the height, and I don’t like rides like rollercoasters. But I was screaming, laughing, and enjoying the day with our youth group. Many churches often say that young people are their treasures. But they often do not want to invest in their time and resources. And I am glad we had other adults like Lee Pender, Cheryl, David, and Sungha to accompany our youth group, walk with them, and listen to their stories. 

When I submitted the receipt to our treasurer, Elaine, she grinned with a big smile, “Our youth group is the future of our church.” Certainly, if we consider our young children, youth, and young adults the treasure whom God has entrusted to us today, we are called to love them, bless them, and nurture them so that they may grow in their love for God and for their neighbors. And we can do that only together by bringing our resources, our time, and energy together. Yesterday, we brought our youth group to Wachusett Mountain for hiking. Lee Williams, Rick, Veejay, and Jen walked and climbed the mountain, guiding the way, holding the hands of our younger ones. 

What talents and gifts has God given to you today? Count your blessings. We are only stewards who possess them temporarily. When we draw our last breath, we will not be able to take anything with us. But how we used our talents and gifts for the kingdom of God may count in the eyes of God. God has given them to us not just for our own pleasure but ultimately to use them as God pleases. Don’t bury them in the ground or waste them away. Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” May it be so.

Amen.