My God Why Have you Forsaken Me?

3. My God, My God: Genesis 39: 10-23; Matthew 27: 45-46

A couple of years ago, I gave a sermon about a friend who was diagnosed with cancer. She fought it, and survived. For over two years things were fine, she was healthy, and life was going back to normal. But then her cancer returned with a vengeance late last year. She lasted six months or less and died recently leaving a young child behind, now an orphan. In those moments, I thought to myself, “But I prayed! I prayed hard!” I asked God why, why would something so cruel and unfortunate happen? It was a moment of clarity on those words my God, why have you forsaken me, or us? 

Though I know you are sick of hearing about it, I think we need a minute to talk about this virus, and how it is affecting us. Many of my friends are being laid off from work because people can’t go out. Their lives are shattered. People feel deeply the isolation especially if they live alone and family may be far away. Our friends and loved ones are getting sick, and some are dying. I think as this continues to drag on for weeks, maybe even months we are all going to be feeling that statement, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 

In those times we feel alone, forgotten, and left to struggle by God, we have to remember the truth: that God is always with us, no matter what. I think of the old hymn, “God Leads His Dear Children Along.” The chorus says, “Some through the waters, some through the flood, some though the fire, but all through the blood; some through great sorrow, but God gives a song in the night season and all the day long.” Trials and struggle will always be present with us. Times when God feels far away will plague us through out life. Can I hear, can I understand, can I feel your presence? O God, where are you? 

That feeling was the most agonizing part for Jesus in his time of suffering. He bears his pain, for the most part, in silence until that point. But the pain of feeling utterly alone causes him to cry out. But in the night season, in the midst of struggles, God still gives a song. Look at the story of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his own family, falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit and imprisoned in Egypt. But we are told in that same scripture, “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love.” 

What an enduring and powerful reminder! God was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love. But Genesis 39 goes on to say, “The Lord was with [Joseph]; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” It’s somewhat of a dual experience. Joseph was in the midst of struggle and suffering, but God was still strengthening and blessing him, for God never abandoned Joseph. The same will be true for us. In life we may struggle. There may be unpleasant times…times of struggle, of pain, of loss. But just as God was with Joseph, God will also be with us. 

In times when there is trouble and suffering, many people go to a quote from Mister Rogers, “When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” And while that quote is very comforting, we need to also go a step further. When Joseph was in prison, he didn’t just hump up and wait for God. We are told in Genesis 39, “The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in prison…the chief jailer paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph’s care because the Lord was with him.” 

Don’t just look for the helpers. Be the helpers. As Christians we are given grace and love, but we are also called to the responsibility of our faith. When people feel forsaken, isolated, and lonely, be the helper who calls and checks on them, befriend them, and tell them that you care about them and God loves them. When Christ called out that God had forsaken him he was helping and saving us all. That begs of us a responsibility to help those who are hurting. 

For all of us, there will be times when we feel like God is not near to us, that we are isolate, struggling, lonely. There will be times when our friends and loved ones dies, and life seems cruel and unfair. I pray that it does not make us bitter, but instead, may we see life’s struggles as a call to be the helpers, to show Christ to others both in easy times and when life is difficult. Call a loved one, check on your neighbor, pray and lift up others in this time. I promise that the more you become the hands and feet of Christ in the world, the less you will feel forsaken, and the more you will be able to say, “It is well with my soul.” 

A Sermon When Church is Closed for a Week

So…What Next?—Joshua 1:9

“I hereby command you: be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9

Despite the fact that church is cancelled tomorrow due to the COVID-19 “Corona” Virus, I would definitely be negligent in my duties if I left you without a sermon on Sunday. Thus, I am attempting to do this whole “virtual” frontier with this week’s sermon. It’s not in our regular worship line up, but I thought we needed to chat for a moment about all that is going on in our world. 

There was a posting on facebook going around the pastor-specific facebook pages which said this: “Dear Everybody—Since I’ve not pastored people through a pandemic before, I don’t know all the answers. But, I”m paying attention to science and praying for wisdom. Together we will take courage, be patient, consider the least of these, and press onward while loving our neighbors. Love, Your Pastor…PS…wash your hands.” 

I got a bit of a chuckle out of that, especially the last part. But the truth still remains that it is agonizing to make decisions such as cancelling church on a Sunday, asking folks to stay home for safety reasons, and so on. There is a fine balance between being safe and unfounded panic. As a pastor, and as a lawyer, I see people tread that line in various ways on almost a daily basis. 

The scripture from Joshua was chosen intentionally. The Israelite people had been waiting to enter the promised land, and it was a long wait of years and years in the desert. They were also in a state of confusion and concern. Moses, who had led them throughout this whole journey was dead. Joshua was new in the leadership role, and he would be put to the test as the people now journeyed from the desert into the promised land. 

For many of us, waiting is a difficult part of life. Nobody wants to sit at home waiting for a virus like this one, the flu, or something else to pass. We worry that we’ve gone overboard, or even that we’ve become weak. God, though, very often had the people in waiting periods: waiting for the danger to pass, waiting for the time to be right, waiting for God to speak. 

First, God spoke to the people a command: be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed. When the time was right, when all was safe, secure, in place, and ready for God’s divine timing, God commanded them to go forth. And God sent them forth with a powerful promise: the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 

God will do the same for us: go forth when God says the time is right, and God will be with you all the way. As your minister, it is my job to teach and counsel, comfort and provide a pastoral presence. Also as part of my ministerial role, it is my responsibility to ensure that church is a safe place where you feel welcomed, but also where we come too concerned to properly worship our God. 

So therefore, take this Sunday to pray and lift up those who need love and prayers. Know that there is no need to worry because God loves you and will see after you both in illness and in good health. Do call and let me know if you need something, or if you need someone to brave the masses at the store and pick up some groceries/supplies for you. Always remember how much I love you and God loves you. And PS…wash your hands. Much love, my friends. 

Words of Christ from the Cross Part 2

Today in Paradise: Psalm 121; Luke 23: 39-43

A friend told me about an awkward lost and found story that happened when she was in college. She had gone home to visit her family, and visit them. Her mom went out for some supplies at Wal-Mart, to stock up on the essentials. My friend texted her mother as her mother was headed home from Wal-Mart. It went something like this: “Mom, where are you?” The reply, “I’m headed home from the store, I’ll be there in a couple of minutes, don’t worry.” My friend texted, “Mom….” The answer, “What?” My friend texted, “So, did you forget I went to Wal-Mart with you?” 

We have all forgotten something or been forgotten before in our lives. No one regardless of age, gender, or any other difference is free from being forgetful from time to time. As we read our second installment of the Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross we see one of the criminals crucified with Christ get right to the heart of this. He says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into you Kingdom.” It’s such a simple request, no frills, no fanciness, none of the extra trappings we tend to add to things: Jesus, remember me. And down through the ages I believe we have all prayed that same request at one time or another. 

Now the other criminal also made a lasting impression, but it’s really the bad kind. He mocked Jesus even as they were being crucified, saying, “So, you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us too while you’re at it!” Now, I don’t know the motivation for this. Perhaps he was just that bitter  and mean, and thought he was getting away with taunting Jesus. Maybe he hoped the authorities around the cross would appreciate his whole “Hey I’m with you!” thing and spare him. Maybe he just didn’t care at all anymore. 

And yet, his attitude has gone down through history as one of the biggest blocks to people believing. Because we struggle with the idea of faith we say the same thing, “Prove it.” Proving it is something we do in courtrooms, in science labs, in socio-political realms. But faith lives in our hopes and dreams. Faith lives in our experience and our hearts. I can’t walk faith through a scientific method because I’m not talking about science. I’m talking about something different. But you know faith when you see it. When friends come to your rescue, sacrifice, give of their time and effort to help you, that looks like faith. When you feel this sense of comfort in your darkest hour and can’t explain it, that looks like faith. When things work out in such an amazing and powerful way that it defies explanation, that, too, looks like faith. It’s in those moments when you pray, “Jesus, remember me,” and somewhat you simply know he does .

The other criminal understood it clearly. He pushed back: “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?” He understood in this moment that faith was about all he had left, and he had better cling tightly to it. Perhaps we’ve all been there—when it feels like nothing is left in life but our faith. We have something our life so great that we can’t buy our way out, think our way out, plan our way out, or even find a way out. When we are stuck, there’s always one thing that stays with us: our faith.Perhaps the criminal who called out to Jesus to remember him understood that. 

That idea goes with our Old Testament, “I look to the mountains—where does my help come from?” And then that bold, power-filled statement: “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” That same Psalm wraps up with a moving reminder: “The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” I’ve said several times that we should never worry for God will watch over us in this life or unto the next. For the criminal on the cross it was the latter. He was not spared his crucifixion. God did not spare him in this life and bring him down to go on till old age. But God brought him safely unto everlasting life. For when he cried out—“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” Jesus responded without compromise or hesitation, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” 

We will all have times in our lives where we feel forgotten, ignored, or even like someone is too busy or distracted to care about us. I see it most in relationships that are meant to be close and intimate. There’s never enough time in the day. Children don’t get the time they need with their parents. Spouses have no time with each other to work on their relationship. Our elderly don’t hear from the loved ones who are supposed to look after them when they get to the age they need help. Sometimes we talk about all kinds of ministries and outreaches and programs, but you know what is truly a humbling ministry? 

Go visit a nursing home or assisted living. Go and spend time talking to the patients living there. They can’t tithe cause all the money is tied up in paying for their care. They can’t really get out and come to church and volunteer. But how truly are such people the least of these whom Christ called on us to care for. Go and visit the doubter, the skeptic, the hurt and broken with the church. Go and talk to the ones who have lost their faith or walked away in pain and grief. Go show some of the faith in your life to the real challenges, not just the ones you feel comfortable hanging around. If we are to make a difference we have to get away from seeing the ones we remember all the time, and go out to visit, care, and greet the ones begging, “Jesus, remember me.” 

If you’ve ever felt forgotten, you know how much it hurts. The criminal who begged to be remembered had lost his way, was probably not a very great person, and likely had not contributed to society as some upstanding citizen. But when he cried out to Jesus, “remember me.” Jesus gave him the greatest answer imaginable: “Today you will be with me in paradise,” the promise to end all promises, the assurance that he was most definitely remembered and indeed loved. No matter who has forgotten you, broken you, left you behind, or simply and selfishly not even cared about you, Jesus remembered you, and Jesus will never, ever forget you. 

I have a good friend who forgets everything, and no it’s not my friend who got left at Wal-Mart. Whenever he and I would hang out or go somewhere, I made absolutely sure that we started heading to the door 30 minutes early because we would play “scavenger hunt.” Where are your keys, your wallet, your glasses, your shoes? Everything needed was somewhere else. He never could keep things together. But you know what he never forgot? He always asked how I was doing. He always called and checked on me from time to time. He always made it a point that even though heaven knows where his keys and wallet landed, he never forgot about his friend and family, and to me, that looked like Christ, that looked like faith. 

A criminal, condemned, forgotten, and even hated by society called out to Jesus, “Remember me!” And Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Regardless of what happens in your life or who forgets about you, Jesus will always, always remember you. 

Words of Christ From the Cross: Part 1

Woman, Here Is Your Son: Exodus 2: 1-10; John 19: 26-27

One of the greatest forces on our earth is that of a relationship. Very often when we think of this in terms of a romantic relationship, when we fall in love, we see things through the rosy glasses, we grin and flirt and all those silly things. But relationships also have a strong bond that doesn’t involve romance. There is the parent-child relationship, relationships between friends, pastor and parishioners. Relationships go deep in our souls and spirits holding us to one another in powerful ways. 

I remember a case I handled several years ago. A daughter had stolen significant amounts of money from her mother and squandered it all. Her mother was not broke, but left in a difficult financial place in her old age. Even in all of that betrayal, pain, and exploitive actions, the mother constantly said that she loves her daughter and refuses to get her in trouble. Relationships have many facets, some involve healthy actions and proper accountability; some blindly overlook everything.

In our studies on the seven last things Christ said on the cross we have looked at forgiveness and we have looked at Jesus remembering us. Today we consider that even on the cross, Christ spoke to the importance of living in a relationship. We see first that a relationship provides for. Now, I’m going to leave you hanging on what comes after that “for” part. When Christ was on the cross, he emphasized the importance of relationship to those gathered around by providing for his mother and his beloved disciple. 

Jesus knew that his mother would be grieving. Yes, she understood the purpose and the mission of her son, but that doesn’t help with a mother’s grief at the death of her son. In fact, there is very little that can comfort such a loss. But Jesus says to the people there, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And to the disciple whom Jesus loved, he said, “Here is your mother.” And from that time on this disciple took Mary into his own home and cared for her. 

Jesus provided for his mother—someone to look after her and care for her. Mary was older now, and the life and times were hard in those days. Jesus was worried about his mother and wanted to make sure she was provided for. But he also knew he was leaving the disciple whom he loved, and that his loss would be felt deeply by this particular disciple. So he made sure that Mary was there to comfort and give a loving, mothering presence to this disciple. He provided for a continued caring relationship for these two people whom he loved. Relationships are meant to provide for. 

In addition to providing for a relationship is meant to save and protect. In our Old Testament story, we read about the birth of Moses. He was born in a time when things were bad for the Hebrew people. They were living in Egypt, and a new king who knew nothing of Joseph, the one who saved Egypt from starvation, was on the throne. He enslaved the Hebrew people, then out of fear that they were too numerous and powerful, ordered their baby boys to be killed. 

So, out of love and a desire to protect and save her child, Moses’ mother let him float down the Nile in a basket. The daughter of Pharaoh discovered Moses and used his own mother to nurse him as a baby. When he was old enough, Moses was then taken to the palace. His mother’s love, the relationship they had as well as his relationship to Pharaoh’s daughter saved and protected him from certain death. 

Too often in life our relationships turn out to be toxic. People are exploitive, have hidden motives, try to do us harm, or are so self-destructive that they are like a great big whirlpool sucking us down into their mess. God designed the relationships in our lives to be a beautiful and holy thing. All throughout the Bible we read of covenants, of relationships, of people working together in holy and loving ways. God had a relationship to Adam and Eve—even from the very beginning. And right to the very climax where Christ is on the cross, the whole story of faith is the story of God’s relationship with us, God’s people. 

Christ even makes it a point to tell this from the cross, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And on the cross, Christ established one of the greatest relationships in history: a relationship with us. It’s the kind of relationship on which we should pattern our own behaviors and actions, on how we should treat people and live together as humans with one another. God meant for relationships to provide for, to save and protect, and to be rooted form the very foundation in love for one another. 

When I think of having a solid relationship, especially with God, I think of that hymn which says to us, “safe and secure from all alarms….I’m leaning on the everlasting arms.” There should be love at the basis of our relationships, but they should also bring us a sense of peace, of joy, they should be kind and gentle in communication and behavior. In our relationships we should strive to be like Jesus…long-suffering, patient, kind, and ready to lift up others. 

But God does not want us to be abusive or abused in our relationships and how we deal with one another. There are several instances where we are given examples of boundaries: Jesus flipped the tables in the temple; Jesus told the woman at the tomb not to touch him; Jesus confronts Peter about his betrayal and denial. Just as people should not use and exploit us because of a relationship to us, so likewise we should be strong in setting boundaries while gently and lovingly holding people accountable for their actions. Christ encourages us to lead, help, and grow together, not punish or pay back. 

I had a friend who was married for several years. She was bright, funny, and full of laughter. But over a few years of marriage, I watched that change. She became quiet, critical of herself, believing that she was worthless, ugly, and useless. The source of that was her toxic relationship. Her husband was mean, insecure, and constantly putting her down to make himself seem better. That, right there, is abuse. 

God’s relationship to us is the pattern that we should strive for in all of our relationships here on earth. It is a relationship that is loving, that provides for, that saves and secures. And we should do the same here on earth. We should be gentle with one another, loving. Even when we have faults and failures and see others behaving in bad ways: we should correct and set boundaries gently and carefully. out of love and not anger or a desire to “get even.” 

When Jesus was on the cross, even in the midst of his own suffering, he spoke to those around him and to us down the ages about the importance of relationships. To his grieving mother who lost a son, he provided someone to love and care for her. To his beloved disciple who was hurting and grieving, he provided comfort and a mothering presence: “Dear woman, here is your son,” and “here is your mother.” From that day on the disciple took her into his home, and they cared for one another, even as Christ had cared for them. May it be so in all of our own relationships. 

Stewards of God's Mission and Vision

Stewards of God’s Vision: Exodus 24: 12-18; Matthew 17: 1-9

In my early days as the organist here, I used to come at night and practice after my law school classes were finished. I was able to avoid the after-school traffic on Vineville and not disturb the music school which used to be upstairs. One night, I was running a bit late, so I only turned on the light up here in the chancel. The rest of the church was dark. That was my first mistake. As I was playing away furiously at a postlude, I caught a glimpse of something to my side. I thought nothing of it and finished. Right as I finished, George Bishop, a long-time member here, started clapping for me. I had not seen him, had no idea he was there, had only caught a glimpse. My next piece was in B-flat, as in, I be flat on the pedals as I fell of the organ bench in terror. 

I had caught a glimpse, but had not paid attention. Many times in life we catch glimpses of things: of danger awaiting, or trouble lurking, but we also catch glimpses of amazing things as well. When I hear young musicians perform, I can catch glimpses of the artists they will become. If you wake up early enough you can catch a glimpse of the day beginning at dawn. The thing about glimpses though, defined as a momentary or partial view, is that if you only see a glimpse of something, you never see the fuller picture. As Christ’s followers, we’re called not just to catch a glimpse of Christ’s glory, vision, mercy, presence, but to see a full vision of what Christ is doing and to follow where Christ leads. 

In our Old Testament, we read how Moses went up on the mountain to speak with God. This was after many of the great debacles in journey from Egypt towards the promised land; after Israel had broken the covenant and commandments. Here they were now, receiving God’s instruction and covenant, and they had all affirmed it. Therefore they got to see a glimpse of God’s glory on the summit of the mountain. 

In our new testament we see a similar story. Peter, James, and John go with Jesus to a high mountain. There they see Jesus transformed, shining like the sun, and Moses and Elijah standing and talking to Jesus. It was just for a moment, but they caught a glimpse of Jesus’ true glory as the Son of God. Then they hear the confirmation…a voice from heaven saying, “This is my dearly loved son, who brings me great joy.”

Sometimes in life we catch a glimpse of the good things, but we miss the whole vision. We ask the questions what do we do, how do we do it, where do we go from here? We sometimes ask the question why a full 1/3 of millennials claim to be agnostic or to have no religion at all? Sometimes we ask why our churches are shrinking or it seems our faith is tired and dry and stale. The answer is that we miss out on our vision as people of God and a community of faith. 

We’ve talked about some simple aspects of stewardship: our authenticity in dealing with our earthly blessings of money, time, and worship; our heavenly blessings where our hearts and treasure are; of God’s creation; of God’s grace to us, and of our growth. Here is the tough one: we must be stewards of God’s vision. I like how an old regional assembly theme put it, too often we talk about the church has a mission. But that’s not correct. 

No, in fact the right way to say it is that God’s mission has a church. In those early days, the disciples saw powerful and glorious things. They saw that God had a mission and it was their job, their responsibility to carry out God’s mission. There was a fire, a passion, a push to live out that mission for God whatever the consequences. Our churches today do not have that. They are cold and institutional, more concerned with propriety than people. 

The early church stood for Christ’s love, preached grace to all, and opposed injustice and oppression even unto the death in Roman amphitheaters or at the hands of Pharisees. God’s mission has a church, and God’s vision has a people. If we are to be stewards of God’s vision and God’s mission, we have to be willing to take the risks to step out in trust in God to hand down our faith from generation to generation—the kind of faith that moves mountains, saves souls, and gives us the courage to say no to the tyranny of evil and false prophets. 

A friend of mine pastored a church where they epically long board meetings. He said they would talk about everything over and over for hours, then, when you thought a decision had been made, it would start all over. Finally, tired, and fed up of the ridiculousness, he lost his cool one night. The meeting had dragged for 45 minutes while the board discussed how a paper towel had been inadvertently left in the corner of the bathroom and the janitor had not cleaned it up, that the facilities committee had not properly advised the janitor, and ultimately, how the pastor had not properly trained the facilities committee. 

My friend lost it. He said at a loud volume, “Why did NO ONE pick up the paper towel and throw it away?! How dare you squander your faith debating this for forty-five minutes. Next time, someone have the common sense and general adulthood to just pick it up and throw it away.” The board sat in stunned silence. It was opportunity to be stewards of a new idea—jump in and fix it. Take up their cross, go forth and solve the problem. They were on the cusp of responsibility, growth, seeing the bigger picture, and God’s whole vision. Instead, they fired him. 

Stewardship requires us to give a little something of ourselves, to work as Christ’s hands and feet here on earth. Sometimes we catch a glimpse of God’s mission of God’s vision, and we dismiss it. But sometimes, we see God’s power and majesty and it inspires us—do something new, make a lasting mark, trust God and move forward in faith. If you see someone with a broken spirit, be present and pray for them. If you see someone sick and hurting, help and heal them. If you see oppression and suffering, have the conviction to stand up for them. We can’t just sit around and wait for the trials of this world to become our own problem. We must go out, pray, live, and make the change in the world for God’s good. Imagine if Jesus had gone into a small room in Galilee, barricaded himself in, and said, “Alright, I will wait for them to come here to me,” and was done with it then. 

But that’s not how faith works. God’s mission has a church, and God’s vision has a people. And we are to be stewards of this mission and this vision. Jesus told the disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen on the mountain with him, “until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” Then he told the people, “Go out into the world.” If we never take a risk, if we never step out in faith, then it tells me two things: we do not trust in God, and we are comfortable letting the Christian faith die. And maybe we are. 

But just maybe, maybe, we can remember that God’s mission has s church, and God’s vision has a people. And maybe there are folks left who will get a whole vision instead of just a glimpse of God, stand up and say, “I’m ready to follow Jesus, to forsake everything, and follow Christ.” You won’t really lose anything, for you’ll have Christ with you the whole way. Maybe, just maybe, we are willing to risk our complacency, and our comfort for God’s mission and vision on earth. The choice is yours. God is calling. 

Stewards of Our Growth

Stewards of Growth—Ezekiel 2: 1-8; Luke 5: 1-11

I recently was having a conversation with a 21 year old. He talked about how his parents watch cable news 24/7, quite literally, all the time in the house. I didn’t not ask which one they listen to: Fox, CNN, or MSNBC because I can pretty well guess. He said to me, “Bruh, it’s like…ya know…information overload,” as the kids these days say. I went on to say that I could remember before we had 24/7 news when my grand parents watched Peter Jennings read the news for 30 minutes on ABC, and for many of you, that would have been Walter Cronkite. He stared at me blankly in total disbelief, and I have never felt so old as I did in that moment. 

That conversation got me thinking…information overload. If we are to be stewards of our growth, we must work at learning, thinking, meditating, praying, and focusing our energies on God. Yet, on a daily basis, how many things are competing in our heads, in our ears, and in our viewing with the things of God? So what is the answer? How do we best become stewards of our growth in faith and in God? I’m going to dare say it…turn off the news, and put down social media. Yes, I said what I said. 

In all of the voices, the noise, the things going on, God should not have to compete for our time and focus, and still lose the battle. In Ezekiel, our Old Testament, we read a small portion of God’s vision and prophecy presented to Ezekiel. The Israelite people were in captivity in Babylon, and this was, seemingly, one of their lowest points. Listen to how Ezekiel responded. When God said, “I want to speak with you,” Ezekiel notes, “he set me on my feet, and I listened carefully to his words.” And, in fact, Ezekiel listened for over 20 chapters to God’s words and visions. 

But then we see Ezekiel’s eagerness set against the behavior of the people. God describes them in this way, “They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to them.” God goes on to describe the people as rebellious, and God tells Ezekiel, whether they refuse to listen or not, they will know a prophet was among them. But the picture gets bleaker, as God tells Ezekiel not to fear their words, their threats, and in a very descriptive place, “[when they] surround you like nettles, and briers, and stinging scorpions.” What a lovely assignment for Ezekiel, and with his own people no less! 

Here, though, is the crux, “You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious.” What does God tell Ezekiel? God wants Ezekiel to focus on him to listen to the wisdom that God gives, to forsake the rebellious nature, to tune out other voices, to ignore the scowls, disapproval, and hatefulness of the people. Basically, tune out the world and focus on God and God alone. “Do not join them in their rebellion,” says God,”Open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 

The people could not hear God, could not return to God because they listened to everything but God. Turn off the noise of the world  whether it’s talk radio, Hannity, Maddow, CNN, Fox, facebook, instagram, twitter, or all the like, but all the things which are distracting you from a growing faith. Turn them off, and walk away. Take your Bible or a book, sit outside with your pets and enjoy a sunset. Take a stroll somewhere and ponder things which are holy. I heard stories this week about a long-time member of the church, Aural Erwin, who walked all around downtown and the Mercer campus daily, even until his 90s. 

The problem is very real. God is essentially telling Ezekiel to go and prophesy, to speak the truth of a judgment and pathway to restoration for the people. Yes, Ezekiel must say tough things to them, but God also provides hope and a pathway out of their suffering in Babylon. But the people are totally unwilling to listen, to even hear what God is saying. I fear our society has become the same. People listen to everything else under the sun except for God. We have become set in our ways, comfortable in our own Babylon, and unwilling to accept any word of prophecy or truth. British philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” 

So what can help us refocus and become good stewards of our faith again? Simon Peter learns three things from Jesus: first, go to deeper water; second, let the nets down when Jesus is on the boat; and last, leave everything behind to follow. Many people stick with scripture and prayers that are familiar and comfortable—they never challenge themselves, they never are willing to risk going into the deeper, less certain aspect of faith. Jesus, though, says to Peter to go out where it is deeper and cast the net. There was no danger in the deeper water, for Jesus was right there with him. But in order to catch anything, Peter had to be daring enough to fish in the deeper waters. 

Jesus also needs to be in the boat with you. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” Think on those words, that apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. Lastly, Peter and his cohorts left everything behind to follow Jesus, for they saw how amazing it truly was to follow him. What are we following? Where is the majority of our attention, time, and energy spent? 

We cannot be so sinful in our certainty that we are no longer able to listen to the voice of the prophets among us. God has not stopped speaking, and the Holy Spirit has not stopped working, but the question is this: are we still listening? I used to hate the idea of being led, or guided, or told what to do, probably my own youthful rebellion. But as I’m aging, I see the wisdom of turning off the distractions, of not listening to silliness on the television, and instead of learning from the wisdom around me. I see the importance of growing in faith and Christlike ways from people who can teach me. I’ve learned, I need my elders in faith to teach me, but I also need them to be willing to still hear God’s voice and sacrifice certainty in all things. 

Jesus said said to the disciples, come and follow me. They didn’t know where they were going, what was about to happen, or how their lives would change. What they did know was how amazing this man, Jesus, was, and how important it was to follow him. So they left it all behind and followed without even a hesitation. The details were uncertain, but their faith was unwavering. If you want to know the secret to being stewards of your faith, it’s found in that first little bit of the hymn, “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand.” 

Stewards of God's Grace

Stewards of God’s Grace—Exodus 34: 1-6; II Cor. 12: 6-10

Several years ago, I attended a learning retreat type of get-together. As we all started talking and working together, there was a theme, or a phrase, which began to gnaw at me as problematic—not quite a thorn in the flesh, but a problem, none the less. First one person said it, then another one or two echoed it. The phrase was this: “Well, they say the Disciples of Christ is the best-kept secret in Georgia.” Finally, because sometimes if I think it, I say it, I blurted out, “That’s absolutely shameful…why is it a secret?” And that is how I ended up not going to any more such get-togethers. 

Our faith, our walk with God is meant to be shared. That’s what it means to be stewards of God’s grace, the very same grace shown to us every day. Now, that does not mean we take every opportunity to smack somebody upside the head with a Bible. Our stewardship must be passionate, but also tempered with gentleness. And yet, in our modern times, such sharing has become almost unpleasant because people boast about their faith without having the Christ-like life to back it up. The question is this: Can someone learn your faith, not from the Bible studies you attend or the words you say, but from the way you live your life? Do we live as if we believe? 

Look at what the Apostle Paul says: “If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message.” If we are not careful, the message may easily slide into boasting—a message about all the success in our lives, and not about what God has done for us. Paul did not want people to look at him and see what he had accomplished saying that he’s a great preacher, or brilliant teacher, or fearless missionary, no! Paul wanted people to look at what had been accomplished in his life and say, “My, my, see how Christ has worked through him.” 

So what, exactly, are we to share? Paul goes on to talk about a thorn in his side—a messenger from Satan to keep him humble by tormenting him. In some form or fashion we all have such a thing in our lives. It may be an illness we struggle with. It may be chronic pain (a literal thorn!), mental health struggles, any kind of general, daily struggle which reminds us of our own inadequacy or tells us, “No, you cannot do that.” I have a friend who struggles from a disorder called “imposter syndrome.” It is generally described as “a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. ‘Imposters’ suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense” of being a fraud or failure that overpowers any feeling of success or competence, according to a 2008 article on the issue in Harvard Business Review. 

Whatever the thorn in our side is, it will tell us that we are incapable of doing what God has called us to do. And it will tell us that we are a failure no matter the success we find in God’s grace and God’s strength. But God gives us a reminder just like Paul was given a reminder. The Lord says, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Paul goes on from there to say we can be proud even of our weakness as we know that when our weakness shows, Christ’s strength will bear us through. Paul talks about all the hardship, insults, beatings, imprisonments and so on that he’s struggled through, and then says this: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

Perhaps that’s why Paul could sing and praise God even while wrongfully jailed, why he could still share the good news even when beaten and left for dead, why he could encounter any difficult situation and KNOW that it had no power over him because of those words: my grace is all you need. Perhaps those are some of the most powerful words in our Christian walk, as we work out our salvation. We are reminded even further in Exodus of God’s grace and God’s strength for us. 

We are told that after the Hebrew people had turned from God while Moses was on Mt. Sinai and the Ten Commandments had been broken (literally smashed), God had Moses create another set of tablets for the commandments. Then God passed before Moses saying, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” God is filled with love for us, with faithfulness in all things. These two scriptures are a powerful reminder that in all things God takes care of us, period, for we are loved and cherished by the One who created us. 

So now that you know the what, let’s talk about this stewardship part. Paul says, “I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message.” Our work doesn’t stop at just the getting of the grace and the securing in God’s strength. We are to share this in our life’s message. All of the good that God has done for us should not be the best kept secret we have. It should be the mantra of our lives. I like how Dr. Bill Curwood, a well known Disciple pastor in Kentucky said it, “I never run out of things to say about the amazing love of Christ.” 

But even as we speak the truth of our faith, even as we tell of God’s grace and God’s strength, our lives must also show it. For example, once upon a time, the perceptions of other people used to greatly concern me. I used to be careful to make sure I did things in a way that people would like me, and that I could make them happy. I worried about how what people said, did, and all of those “approval-seeking” things. I don’t care anymore. My life’s goal is to remember that God’s grace is sufficient and that God’s strength is perfect, and in all my ways, my comings and goings, I’m to speak God’s truth and live a Christ-like life. Everything else is just noise to distract us. 

So we come back to that question. Can someone learn your faith, not from the Bible studies you attend or the words you say, but from the way you live your life? Do we live as if we believe? We are to be stewards of God’s grace, not keeping the secret, not hoarding the blessings. But even as we tell of God’s love in our lives, we must also live in such a way that we reflect that. Paul shared his story of God’s work in his life, “My grace is all you need…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” We, too, have a story to tell of God’s grace and strength in our lives. May we, then, share that good news, so that all will know that God’s grace is sufficient. 

Stewards of God's Creation

Stewards of God’s Creation—Genesis 1: 1-24; Revelation 11:18

I remember back in high school my mom brought home this really large package and asked me to help her get it set up. I was afraid this was going to be another house project with “some assembly required,” so I was quite skeptical. What came out of the box was three large containers which stacked on top of one another: yellow, green, and blue. As best I remember, they were labeled for paper, aluminum, and plastic. Then came a very clear edict: we were going to start recycling, period. 

This was a bit surprising as we lived in coal country, in a rural area well outside of town, the kind of rural that has iffy internet, is too far for cable, and has septic tanks. But I learned an important lesson both in action and in word. I watched my mom sort all of the items in those bins, load them up every other week and drive them off to be recycled (because there was no pick up for recycling). When I asked why, she said, “Well I figure God gave us this Earth, and we need to do a little something to look after it.” 

That idea of care of God’s creation has been mishandled and thrown aside for years as “liberal talk” or unimportant to the grand scheme of faith, but there is more to being stewards of our earth than just a few political talking points. So, hear this sermon out a bit. In Genesis, we read how God created the heavens and the earth; how God made evening and morning, the birds, the space, the plants and trees, the animals each and every one, and finally God created humankind: men from dirt and women from a fully created functioning person. (I make no conclusions based on that about men or women. I will let the origins speak for themselves.) 

But after God made human kind, they were given a command in Genesis 1:28—“Then the Lord blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.’” We were called to govern the earth, or rather, given charge of it. Think of that idea—to be given charge over. If you are given charge over a classroom you teach and make it better. If you are given charge over a project you complete it making something better. If you are given charge over a number of family heirlooms you look after them to keep them from deteriorating. 

Many denominations have looked toward this idea of being called to care for God’s creation. In 2006, the Souther Baptist Convention passed a resolution saying both, “that we urge all Southern Baptists toward the conservation and preservation of our natural resources for further generations.” And that phrasing was couched in the same terms that we have charge of God’s handiwork. 

The question we must ask ourselves is this: how would God want us to look after what we have been given? Revelation 11:18 is revealing—“It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.” Okay, so that scripture is about as subtle as a heart attack, it would seem. But this scripture gets to a deeper point. Being stewards of God’s earth doesn’t just mean recycling, and so on. We ought not abuse other humans who are also part of God’s creation. 

Everyday we see stories of violence, murder, hatred…messages to be tough in a way that is not firm but truly abusive of our fellow human. Look instead at how Jesus lived: healing, loving, gently asking those who encountered him to go and sin no more. And yet, we see people abused all the time, and so often in the name of religion. I love the quote that says, “If your religion requires you to hate someone, my friend, you need a new religion.” Jesus was often tough on people, especially the Pharisees and religious leaders. He challenged them and pushed them, but there’s a final word there. 

On the cross, even as he suffered his own abuse at the hands of religion, Jesus prayed in Luke 23:34, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.’” I have often been mad at people. I have often wanted to say something I know would cut them to the quick. And sometimes, I have even said it. But as faith grows, so do we in the maturity of our responses, and in our knowledge that abusing another human, created in God’s own image, is just as sinful as what that other person may have done to us. Because we are given charge of the earth, we should be mindful to set an example of Christ in all of our words, in all of our actions, and in all of our daily lives. 

And now the truly personal part of being stewards of God’s creation. We, too, were created by God and in God’s own image; therefore, we ought not abuse ourselves either. Some of us struggle with feelings that we are insufficient at everything, at life. Some of us push ourselves physically beyond what we are really capable of. Some of us carry weights and burdens so heavy and for so long that the tears will no longer even flow. Some of us would rather hide in food, booze, or other destructive behaviors because we are too afraid to let God’s grace lead us to healing, not of chemical imbalances and actual diagnosed diseases, but of unresolved pain and trauma. 

I love the quote by writer Kathleen Winter, “It was not fair, she felt, to treat people as if they were finished beings. Everyone was always becoming and unbecoming.” In order to follow Christ you must give up the old and embrace the new. To continue following Christ, we must realize that God is never going to stop challenging us. But I believe, I firmly believe, that as God challenges us, we are offered strength and healing in proportion to the challenge. For God is never done working in us and through us here on earth until we take our final breath. 

For the same God who created the heavens and the earth, light and dark, birds, fish, trees, and yes, even that weird little platypus creature, created you and I as well. But there was something special because we were created in God’s image and to have a relationship with God. And in that relationship, God offers us a gentle healing from our own self-abuse. God offers us love and forgiveness, then tells us these gifts, these lessons, we are to share with the whole world for we’ve been given charge of it. 

That’s why I appreciated my Mom’s lesson on recycling. I got to see both the extra effort put in as well as the wise words, “I figure God gave us this Earth, and we need to do a little something to look after it.” And so we should. We must remember that we have charge over the beauty and majesty of what God has created to love and protect the vulnerable and the weak. We must remember that Revelation warns us against abusing other people, as they too are created in God’s own image. And lastly, we must treat our own selves gently seeking healing and peace in our own lives especially if the past weighs heavy upon us. Each portion of the creation story in Genesis 1 finishes up with these words: “And God saw that it was good.” May we remember that we are made in God’s image and to have a relationship of love and grace with our Creator. 

Stewardship of Earthly Blessings

Stewardship of Earthly Blessings: Isaiah 58: 1-8; Acts 2: 42-47

A year or so ago, I was visiting a friend up in Atlanta. Now she is a big fan of antique stores and looking for historic and interesting things around antique stores, and basically seeing what they have available. So, knowing her love of this, I politely, if hesitantly, agreed to go with her…to the non-air conditioned antique store…in August. While walking up and down the aisles, sweating, we came across this gorgeous small kitchen table. It was beautiful wood, fantastic gold stenciling, ornate, lovely, and she instantly fell in love with it. 

The store owner told us this long history of how it was almost 100 years old, where it came from, and how well preserved it was. But something, something in the back of my mind was saying there’s a problem. This table in TOO good of shape for its age. So I got under the table and started looking around. The shop owner immediately and tersely said, “What are you doing?” And then I found it. In small gold stenciling on the underside of the table…Made in China, 1995. How authentic.

Authenticity plays a major role in our lives and in our lives of faith. If we lack authenticity in our worship, our prayers, our witness, then we will utterly fail in our walk with God. Authentic is defined several ways: worthy of belief as being based in fact, conforming to an original, not false, and true to one’s own spirit or character. We see it used in a variety of ways: authentic Mexican food, authentic antique table, and a sincere and authentic personality. Authenticity in our faith and in our worship is vital, and I daresay, the lack of it is the main cause of the decline in church attendance. 

In Isaiah, we are told that the worship of the people was not authentic. They went through the motions: showing up at the temple, learning about God, fasting, appearing righteous, pious actions, and so on. They had quite carefully and literally done all the right things, so what’s the problem? Their worship was for appearance, and not for God. God tells them that they are doing it to please themselves. Then God gives them the dreaded list of what is wrong: fasting while still oppressing workers, while fighting and quarreling, going through the motions, failing to truly and authentically live the faith that they act out. 

God tells them that their faith should be authentic, and that is seen by how they live and act: free those wrongly imprisoned, go easy on those who are laborers, free the oppressed, share food with the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe those who are in need of good clothing, and do not hide from family who need help. I can almost feel myself choking and sputtering at that list. It’s tough, condemning, convicting of those who say they are faithful to God. 

In the book of Acts we are given even more tough instruction: they performed miraculous signs and wonders, they met together and shared everything, they even sold their property and possessions to share the money with those in need, they prayed, they communed, they praised God, and they enjoyed the goodwill of all people. The earliest church was a community, not an institution, and I fear as we we have moved away from that sense of community, we have lost our authenticity. 

The church’s mission should center on worship, strengthening relationships to God, helping others find faith, and serving the community. These cover the big areas including the daily worship of the early church, the signs and wonders, and the selling off of everything they had to give to those in need. When the pulpit and the church is used for anything else, the church falls into the trap of Isaiah 58’s warning. 

For instance, the church should never be used to advocate for politics or politicians—we must get back to the idea that we render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God, and the church has never belonged to Caesar but is, has been and always will be God’s and God’s alone. And that sinfulness spans all sides of the political spectrum. It is my job, as a preacher and pastor (and indeed of other pastors), to introduce you to Christ and to show you what is in the Bible so that you can work out your salvation, your faith, and your Christian walk with God, to support and help you on your walk of faith., and to work on behalf of the oppressed,, poor, and suffering as listed in Isaiah.  

When we are stewards of our earthly blessings, we are authentic in our worship and we are authentic in our charity and giving, not because of a tax break, but because of our Christian desire to help the poor and those in need. Jesus was never stingy with his blessings, with his healing, and with his love of the people, including those who were outcast, untouchable, and foreigners. He offered them healing, restoration, and grace when they needed it the most. 

My friends, that is the job of the church and the job of us as Christians. to make sure our actions align with our faith, with what the Bible says, and with how Christ speaks to us. There are parts of the Bible that make us uncomfortable. These few verses in Acts 2 make us uncomfortable. So, we try, then, to explain it way—give only so much to those in need, there’s a percentage. Well, weekly worship is sufficient—I’m getting my dose of faith that way. Once a quarter should be sufficient for the Lord’s Supper, right? NO! No, No. We cannot compromise the truths of the Bible where it makes us uncomfortable or puts a holy strain on our lives. That is not being a good steward. The believers devoted themselves to their lives of faith daily. They gave with wiling hearts, with love, and knowing that they had to walk by faith and not by sight. That, that right there is an authentic way to walk with God. 

We must get back to a faith, to a walk with God, that echoes the words of the hymn: “All to Jesus, I surrender. All to him I freely give. I will ever love and trust him; in his presence daily live. I surrender all.” Authentic faith is not that difficult, really. God doesn’t ask for our money, God doesn’t ask for our time, God doesn’t ask for our service. Instead God asks for us, just we ourselves…I surrender all. Over and over Jesus says, “Come follow me.” It may be in the context of giving us rest, of sending us out to be fishers of people, or even to take up a cross. 

Those details of our calling (money, time, and talents) will work themselves out as we learn and walk with Christ. We don’t have to know each step of the way because we walk by faith, not by sight. But first and foremost, before we work out the details, before we nail down exactly how this faith thing works and how to be stewards of the tools God gives us here on earth, we must first find an authentic way to worship and follow God. First and foremost, before anything else, Christ calls to us, “Come and follow me.” May we have the conviction to say, “All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all” 

Stewardship of Our Heavenly Blessings

Steward of Heavenly Blessings: Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 6:19-21

As kids, we often play games using our imagination, creativity, and coming up with elaborate ideas and plans. When I was little, very often we would play games of going on a treasure hunt which involved some wild adventure. I’m sure at some point my Nanna grew incredibly tired of all the make believe games, but she was a good sport about it. In fact treasure hunts appeal to us on a variety of levels. We read books about hunting for treasure, watch movies such as the Indiana Jones movies, and so on. Our Gospel lesson speaks to this curiosity with treasure hunts telling us “wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” 

So what kind of tools would we need for a treasure hunt? In the life of a follower of Christ, our greatest tools for a treasure hunt are faith and prayer. Over and over in our scriptures today we are told to look toward heavenly things. We are told in the Gospel to store treasures in heaven. In Isaiah it talks about God’s spirit being upon the chosen one, and that God “will take [him] by the hand and guard [him].” That close communion with God through prayer and faith is required to store up our treasures in heaven. 

We hear the importance of prayer and faith sung in songs throughout churches: “Faith is the Victory, Sweet Hour of Prayer, My Faith Looks Up to Thee, and Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire.” In that last one, we hear the words, “Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath, the Christian’s native air, his watchword at the gates of death; he enters heaven with prayer.” For where our treasure is, there our hearts shall be. Faith and prayer are the tools which keep us connected to God in Christ, which humble us, open our communication with the Holy One, and keep us grounded in what we believe. Indeed, faith and prayer our are greatest tools on our heavenly treasure hunt. 

Faith and prayer, though, are not just things we have—things which are convenient to keep around. They are tools, and tools are meant to be used. I’m often amazed at the number of Christians, who, when asked about the last time they really prayed, cannot even remember it. If you don’t use them, tools grow rusty, dull, and we quickly lose the ability to use them. Prayer and faith need to be used…more than just two sentences over dinner and more than just a few quick words here and there when needed. 

Why are these tools so important? The answer is that in any treasure hunt there will be danger along the way, which we must find a way to face. Our Gospel lesson tells us that if our treasures are stored here on earth then we face a threat to our treasure: moth and rust destroy them, and thieves break in and steal. So, the only thing standing between you and your earthly treasure is a little dry rot and a savvy burglar. The truth is that real treasure is found in our faith, in our trust in God, and in our heavenly blessings. Here on earth, we will face danger all the way on our treasure hunt. 

I was sent an article this week about a carjacking in the parking lot over at Vineville Christian Towers. Other news stories around it included stories about armed robbery, shootings, violence, poverty. We see on our national news about escalating war tensions throughout the world and especially in the Middle East. It reminds me of an old hymn in the Lutheran church, “I walk in danger all the way. The thought shall never leave me that Satan, who has marked his prey, is plotting to deceive me. This foe with hidden snares may seize me unawares if I should fail to watch and pray. I walk in danger all the way.” 

Our lives are filled with danger, and with 24 hour, readily available news, we are even more well-reminded how dangerous life can be. But if our treasure is stored in heaven, trouble and danger will not seem quite as scary to us. Those tools of faith and prayer can give us strength, courage, and security when the pathway of our treasure hunt becomes treacherous. If you only focus on the danger, you will never be able to make the journey. We have to trust that God is walking with us, guiding us, and leading us each and every step. As Isaiah says, “God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And…[he] will take you by the hand and guard you.” It’s a promise, and that’s why our treasure should rest in heavenly things. 

Finally, we must remember that the treasure awaits us. We can invest all the things we want on earth—money, business, looks, talents. Everything under the sun can be saved up and invested in here on earth, but eventually those things will fade. That is why we must invest our treasures in heaven, where we can develop time, talents, abilities to sustain us throughout our entire lives. Theologian Stanley Hauerwas reminds us, “Just as an athlete with natural gifts may fail to develop the fundamental skills necessary to play their sport after their talent fades, so people [of] faith may fail to develop the skills necessary to sustain them for a lifetime.” 

Here’s the idea—you must develop the basics of faith—invest your treasure in heaven—in order to sustain your trust in God for a lifetime. You may be the most talented preacher, best singer, most beautiful pray-er in the church, but if you have not developed the basics and made the investment, you will fall to the danger on the way. As an example, being a native Kentuckian, we always watched basketball instead of football. Now, I would like to think that’s because basketball is the sport of my state; however, I’m pretty sure it’s simply because we are pretty awful at football. 

If you watched some of the young basketball stars recruited by the University of Kentucky, you can see them doing these fancy jump shots, swinging from the net, elaborate defense and trick moves. But they can’t shoot a simple free-throw from right in front of the basket. They failed to develop fundamental skills, and when the talent faded, there was no support left for them to play the game. If we do not invest in heavenly treasures, in developing our faith and prayer abilities, of working out our trust in God daily, then we will not have good enough fundamentals to sustain our faith when the treasure hunt gets dangerous. 

Our hope, our trust, and our faith must be built on the solid rock which never fails us. So get ready for your treasure hunt—sharpen and prepare your tools of faith and prayer making sure they are strong and well developed. Prepare for the danger that lurks on your journey, and remember what treasure awaits you when you trust in God and walk with Christ. That will be the greatest treasure you find—no rot and rust, no burglars waiting to take your treasure away. Invest your time, talents, and faith in God, for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.