Luke 12:13-21

One day the crowds were gathering around Jesus and he was teaching them. He was telling them to watch out for false teachers and set their priorities. Then someone in the crowd said, "Jesus, why don't you tell my brother that the right thing to do is to split the profits from the family business with me." Jesus said, "What? Am I your accountant now?" The Jesus said to the crowd, "Watch out for materialism. You came into this world with nothing and you will leave it with nothing. You are more than their things you own."

Then Jesus gave them a parable that might have gone something like this: "Once upon a time there was this wealthy investor and he made a killing in the stock market. He sat down in his big office behind his desk and leaned back in his chair and said, 'I've got it made. I'll put all my money in an offshore bank and live off the interest! Then I can live large and drink margaritas on some Caribbean beach!'

Then God chimed in and said, 'Who do you think you are? OK This is how it is going to be. I will be the IRS and I am going to audit your life's books tonight. Then we will see what you spiritual balance sheet looks like. And when all is said and done you can't take your riches with you.'"

Then Jesus looked the people in the eye and said, "That is how it is with anyone who values things and doesn't invest their lives in God."

Where are your investments? I am not talking about your savings or your retirement funds. I am taking about your life; your heart and soul. What is it that really matters in your life? Are you living for the job? Are you living for the weekend? What is it that you truly value: wealth, recognition, respect, pride, recreation, family?

Jesus warns us about the pitfall of valuing material possessions. Jesus was there with all these people gathered around. People were taking time out of their busy day to hear what Jesus was saying. And Jesus was warning them not to invest in the false religion of their leadership or in the leadership themselves. And the people had the opportunity to ask anything of Jesus.

If you had been in that crowd what might you have wanted to ask? Maybe ask for clarification of one of his teachings. Maybe to ask about the Kingdom of God that Jesus was always talking about. Maybe to ask for the meaning of life. But there was this one guy in the crowd who asked Jesus to tell his brother to split the estate with him. He could have asked anything, and he asks for money. He asked because that is what mattered to him.

So Jesus warns them about greed. This is a message that is so pertinent for today. The attitude of many in our society was characterized by a monologue in a popular movie where the character said, "Greed for lack of a better word is good. Greed is right. Greed works." This same sentiment has also been put on a bumper sticker: "The one who dies with the most toys wins." Our society values things, and the bigger and fancier the better.

The end result of this greed is evident. In the desire to make more money financial institutions have overextended themselves. People in charge of corporations have pillaged retirement funds to make their bottom line look better and then given themselves large bonuses. People have used credit to live beyond their means and dug themselves into a hole.

But why? Because that is what they value. That is what they live for. That is what they worship.

But Jesus says be on your guard against greed. Now don't misunderstand. Jesus is not saying that wealth or material possessions are bad. The issue in the parable is not that the man made money. The issue is what he intended to do with it. He intended to just hoard it for himself.

The Bible says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains."(1 Tim. 6:10) John Wesley said that Christians should make all they can and save all they can. But then he followed that up by saying they should give all they can.

So it is not the possessions that are the problem. It is what place to give them in our lives. Are possessions an end in themselves or are they a means to an end. And what is that end.

Jesus ends his parable by saying, "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." So I ask again; where are your investments? Are you investing your live in God or in things? Things will pass away. Things can be stolen or devalued. Things are temporary.

But God is eternal. God can give real meaning and purpose. God knows your needs and can supply them.

Invest in God. Live your life for the Almighty. Dedicate your whole life to God. Don't hoard earthy things, but invest richly in God.

"Think Globally, Act Locally." This phrase was coined by and is used by environmentalists. The idea behind it is that global environmental problems have local solutions. So one should keep in mind the over all global dilemmas of deforestation, pollution, extinction, and global warming. At the same time one should act within one's own community to address those issues locally. Doing things like protecting endangered species, recycling, lowering emissions, planting trees...

In the same vein we Christians should: "Think Heavenly, Act Locally." We should keep the things of God in our hearts and minds but our feet should always be on the ground. We should think not just about Heaven but about the Heavenly truths revealed to us in Christ. We should set our hearts and minds on things like love, peace, joy, hope, redemption, forgiveness. At the same time we should be doing something in our own lives to share and spread love, joy, peace, forgiveness etc. We should carry out those heavenly thoughts with local actions.

You know, the Christian life is not about sitting in our ecclesiastical ivory towers and contemplating God. There is a time for retreat and contemplation. But all that contemplation means nothing if we do not act on it.

I think that is a big part of what Paul is saying to the Colossians in our lesson today. Be begins "If then you have been raised with Christ."(1) That's a big "if!" But he is writing to Christians so I believe it is a rhetorical "if." He believes they have been raised with Christ. That being the case, they should seek the things above not earthly things.

By "Earthly things" he is not talking about things of this material world like food, water, air, the environment. He is talking about sin. He goes on to describe these earthly things "fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."(5) He tells them to put away "anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk," (8) and to live as brothers and sisters no matter what their cultural or ethnic background or their economic status. We have been raised above those things through Jesus' blood shed on the cross that washes away our sins and through his resurrection that give us new life.

But none of those "earthly things" are a problem for any of us. None of us has impure thoughts or passions. None of us is having or has ever had premarital sex. "The preacher done quit prechin' and gone to meddlin'." None of us has ever coveted our neighbor's mustang or house or computer or Education building. Ouch! I think I just stepped on my own toes.

If we are honest with ourselves we are all guilty of these "earthly things" to one degree or another. But Christ calls us to rise above these things; to not just think heavenly but to put that into action in our daily lives.

Jesus told a parable that I think has some bearing on this matter. It is about a man who did not think on heavenly things or act locally. (Luke 12:16-21) Once upon a time a rich man hit it big time. He invested in stocks that went thought the roof. So he though "I have it made. I will set up a nest egg on low risk stocks and government bonds and I will have it made. I won't have to work another day of my life. I can retire young; buy a place on a Caribbean island and sit back and enjoy the good life." But that very night God said, "You fool; tonight is your last night. You will die and then what will you have? All your treasures are on earth and none are eternal."

Well, Jesus told the story a little differently than that but the point is the same. This man thought only of earthly things about his own greed and want. What if he had thought heavenly? He would have considered things like love and peace and his neighbors. He might have considered the needs of others around him and not just his own needs.

And what if he had acted locally on these thoughts? He wouldn't have just horded his wealth for himself. He would have used it to benefit other. He could have fed the hungry. He could have established scholarships and endowments that would help break the cycle of poverty. He could have provided medical care for people in need.

And how might the story have ended differently? His last night might have come at that same time. But instead of leaving behind a nest egg of unspent riches, he would have made a difference in the world. And his soul would have been in a better state. He would have acted locally and made eternal investments.

You are raised with Christ! Jesus died to take away your sin. And he rose to give you new life. So let us rise above the things of this earth. Let us set our hearts and minds on the things of God. And let us act on those thoughts.

Today we have before us some common everyday earthly objects: food and drink. This is just ordinary bread and this ordinary grape juice. But they call to mind the body and blood of Christ. The body and blood that were broken and shed that you may seek things that are above and not dwell on the sin of this world.

Come and think heavenly. Think of the Son of God giving his life for you. Think of eternal glory. Think of forgiveness and peace and grace.

Then act in your life. With God's help rise above sin. And put those heavenly thoughts into local action!

Hosea 11:1-11

Recently I was watching some old tapes of my kids. In one Mary, 2 years old, is standing behind a basinet going on and on about hew new baby sister. Without taking a breath she tells of seeing her baby sister in the hospital and how she "cried and cried and cried." Then Mary looks down in the basinet and says, "Shhh! She aseep." In another Kaitlyn is hiding Easter eggs. But instead of placing them behind bushed or under lawn chair she is flinging them 2 at a time with a wide circular motion of her arms.

My daughters are the apple of my eye. I remember them learning to walk and to talk. And as they grow up to be talented intelligent and beautiful young ladies, I take pride in them. I'm also very modest about their accomplishments.

And I am sure I am no exception. I am sure all the parents here have similar memories of their children. And in the same way I am sure we all take pride in our children. I have heard so much from the older people of the congregation about what a wonderful group of youth we have. Isn't that just the parental figures in the congregation taking pride in the younger members?

Well, in the same way that our children are the apples of our eyes, Israel was the apple of God's eye. God had brought Israel into existence and raised Israel. God had taught them to walk through the wilderness. God had taught them to talk and speak words of Divine Love. God had given them guidance and wisdom through the Law and the Prophets.

I like the way that Hosea put it: "I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them." I led them with cords of compassion, with the bands of Love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks." God was to Israel like a parent who lifts a baby to the cheek!

Can't you just picture God picking up Israel and kissing it. Just as a parent picks up a small child. In the same way that our children are the apples of our eyes, Israel was the apple of God's eye.

But Israel was not a good child - a bad apple dare I say. They worshipped false gods. It started with the golden calf at Sinai. But they didn't learn their lesson then. In later years it was Ba-al and the other Gods of the land. Idolatry was a reoccurring theme in Israel's history.

When they weren't completely forsaking God they were complaining. In the wilderness they complained and God gave them bread from heaven. They complained of having no water and God gave them water from a rock. They complained of having no meat so God gave them quail. When God brought them to the Promised Land they complained that is was too dangerous. When they finally entered the Promised Land they complained that they had no king.

And in tough love God allowed them to reap the consequences of their sin. God withdrew his protection and the nations around them came in and conquered them. And God allowed them to be carried off into captivity.

But can a parent ever stop loving their child? The love of a parent doesn't end just because the child rebels. God says, "How can I give you up, O Ephraim! How can I hand you over, O Israel! How can I make you like Admah! How can I treat you like Zeboiim! My heart recoils within me, my compassion grows warm and tender."(Hosea 11:8)

Admah and Zeboiim were two cities that God destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. God cannot destroy Israel like that! So God declares, "I will not execute my fierce anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come to destroy."

God in love will redeem them out of slavery. God will call them back . Their Father will bring them back home.

Once upon a time there was a single mother who was raising her son in a tough neighborhood. She sought to protect him form the tough environment. She taught him right from wrong. She watched him grow to be a young man. And he was the apple of his mother's eye.

But he began associating with a bad crowd. He started getting involved in drugs and gangs. She warned him, she threatened him, she punished him, she even begged him. But he continued to get deeper and deeper in trouble. When he was old enough to be on his own she threw him out until he changed his ways.

Finally he ended up in jail. But he was still the apple of her eye. So she went once a week when she was allowed to visit to see him. They didn't have much time but she would be there. Sometimes he would ask for money or things. But she knew that whatever she gave him would be used to get drugs. Sometimes she would come and he would not even see her. But week after week she came because he was the apple of her eye.

You are the apple of God's eye. God made you just as you are. Your personality quirks, your talents, your weaknesses. And God loves you, for who you are, just like a parent loves a child. God has cared for you and raised you and made you the person you are.

But we all from time to time rebel. We have all worshipped false gods like Israel. We have all been ungrateful and rebellious like Israel. We have all been bad children.

But God still loves us. And through Jesus he redeems us. He called us back home like wayward children. Why? Because you are the apple of God's eye!

Luke 12:13-21

The story is a common one. We have all seen it before. A man works all his life with the goal of retirement and rest. Every day is just another day closer to that goal. He saved his money and contributions to the company retirement plan. All the time looking forward to the day when he is retired and is able to live on all that money he has saved. Living for the day when he can stop working.

Then the day comes for his retirement. And he thinks; "Now I have it made. The house is paid for. The kids are through college. And the money market account provides enough to live on comfortably. I have everything I need."

Then, suddenly, he dies. Usually of a heart attack. All that stress over all those year finally took its toll. And all that he had been living for is gone. "What a waste," we think.

Like that man, most people treasure earthly things above all else. Sometimes I wonder if we should change the motto on our coinage to "In Gold We Trust." That seems to express the truth about our society. We in America seem to place a lot of trust in our wealth. We are a consumer society: buy and sell. People are constantly telling us we cannot live without the newest gadget. We think our possessions are what is most important.

The people in Jesus' day were no different. Our lesson from Luke is a demonstration of that fact. Someone in the multitude asked Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. Jesus was a teacher, a religious figure, and many people respected him. There is a good chance that the man's brother would do what Jesus told him.

But why did he ask Jesus the question he did? I mean, he had the Son of God there. He could have asked him anything. He could have asked what the meaning of life was. He could have asked how to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven. He could have asked what God's will was. He could have asked what a certain Scripture meant. But instead he asked Jesus to tell his brother to give him his money. He didn't care a bit about what Jesus was teaching! He just wanted his money. Like most people, he treasured earthly things above all else.

But Jesus teaches us that we should place our priority on spiritual riches. You see earthly treasures are a waste. Earthly thing are temporary and pass away. Health fails, and money is lost. Even gold can be devalued or stolen. But spiritual gifts are forever.

That is what Jesus illustrated in his story. The man in Jesus story treasured his wealth. He built bigger barns to hold all the goods he owned. And he gloried in those huge storehouses. He thought that because he was rich he had it made. But then his life came to an end and all his riches were useless. His heirs enjoyed them.

Treasuring earthly things is a waste of time and energy. They rust, decay, or pass away. But the Holy Spirit is eternal. The Love of God never ceases. And God's Peace is beyond understanding. These are the things that we should treasure.

Where are your riches? This is a hard question to answer. Let me put it in other words.

What are you living for? Are you living for retirement like the man in my little story? Is your daily purpose to get one day closer to some blessed day when you can fish all the time? Maybe you are living for the weekend. When you can escape the everyday grind. Do you view Friday as your day of salvation? Or are you living for the glory of God? You may still be working in the same job. But do you live every moment treasuring and valuing the gifts that God gives us everyday. If you are living for retirement or the weekend you are placing too much value on things that pass away.

How do you spend your time? Is it time invested in prayer and study? Is it given to service for the Lord? Is it given to caring for others? Or is it given to earthly pursuits? How we spend our time is an indication of where our treasures are.

How do you spend your money? There is nothing wrong with money. John Wesley used to teach the Methodists that they should make all the money they could. And that they should save all the money they could. But that was not all. They should also give all they could. For Christians money should be a means of doing God's will, not an end in itself. Do you spend your money on yourself or on others? Do you tithe? Yes tithe; do you give ten percent of your earnings to the church or some Godly ministry. You know we Methodists believe in tithing. In fact the Book of Discipline says that a tithe is the minimum a Christian should give to the Lord. How we spend our money is strong indicator of where our treasures are.

The Bible lesson today calls us to examine ourselves and ask ourselves where our treasure is? Do we value earthy things or spiritual things? If the answer is "earthly" then we are wasting our time. But if it is "Spiritual" then we will find we are rich in eternal blessings.

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