Build the church Proper 27 Year C 9th November 2025

2025  11  09   Year C  Proper 27 (32)

Haggai 1:15b-  2:9     Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21    2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17     Luke 20:27-40

 

Who here remembers the days of the former glory?  When I was a young adult I remember a time of incredible life in the church.  The different Christian churches got together and had an event called IT – Interdenominational Thing!  We had a parade through town of groups from the churches who competed against each other in fun games, followed by a concert where we, the local, inexperienced and very amateur talents, sang and danced and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.   

 

In each of our denominations, our own churches hosted regular camps, coffee nights, and events like spirituality in the pub.  Many people got behind the events and many more came and enjoyed them.  There were also many travelling evangelists who came to speak either in church or at a tent ministry, where the call for prayer at the end saw line ups of people a mile long – almost.  I was a member of the local Catholic church back then, and a girl from the Anglican Church came to me and asked me and the band from our church to provide the music for a Youth Service at Holy Trinity.  She had a desire for the church in the center of town to be a host for youth to come to know Christ and the saving message of God.  My music group provided the music for the one event, and I don’t know if anything happened after that.  Wow!  I do remember the days of the former glory of the church.  But what happened after that?  I left town, so did others and I came back to a different scene.

 

We can very easily parallel our church story with the Israelites to whom the prophet Haggai wrote.  We have had good times of life and full churches and times when all of society was blessed because most people either were Christian or held to Christian values and Christian values produce a healthy and wholesome community.  The times... they are a changing!  All churches have felt the pain of decline and experienced the consequences of the sins of some in the church.  I wonder, do you remember the former glory days of the church?

 

Haggai ministered in 520 BC.  He identifies the date by the 2^nd year of the reign of Darius.  Darius was the Persian King who ruled over the empire after Israel had been sent into exile.  Some exiled Jews had returned to their homeland.  During this time, the Temple in Jerusalem was in ruins, but King Darius allowed for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, issuing a decree that supported the project after it had been halted by opposition.  Darius discovered that his predecessor, Cyrus the Great, had issued a decree authorizing the work.  Darius not only ordered the construction to continue but also mandated that the expenses be paid from the royal treasury and that no one interfere with the process.  This is actually an amazing miracle.  An outsider, with immense authority and power, recognises the value in the Temple being rebuilt and even pays for this to happen.  I often think that Street Chaplaincy is like this; we struggled for 3 ½ years and then the government saw the value in what we were doing and now we have a contract to provide that service and they pay us to do so.

 

Haggai was the prophet whose word from God provided the catalyst for the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by delivering God's message to the Jewish community.  This encouraged the Jewish governor and priest to seek the permission to continue the work on the temple.

 

What is going on with Haggai and the people, is deeper than simply rebuilding a building.  We are often challenged to understand that the church is actually the people, and the building is there as a sacred space for our gathering, however, it is the people meeting with God that makes it church.  The Jewish people had always known that God was too big to be contained to any earthly dwelling, but these people had been in exile, and they were now being ruled by a foreigner, and they were somewhat lost, not sure where “home” was and who they were and where they belonged.  A whole new generation or two had grown up in exile and knew nothing of their homeland.  They were losing their identity and sense of uniqueness.  They needed to know that they belonged to God.  They were God’s chosen nation, regardless of where they were and what was happening, temple or not, however, they needed to be reminded of this, and reminded, to give honour to God first and foremost is what we are all called to do.  The project of rebuilding the Temple, and their working together made the house of God their priority.  It confirmed to themselves, and showed the world, that they were the people of God.  This was the point of the message from Haggai.

 

The house of the Lord needs to be built.  It needs to be first priority.  In our modern life, the house of God needs to be OUR first priority, but it’s walls are not made of brick or wood.  The house of God is made from precious gems.  Those Gems are Anthony, Sandra, Louise, Caleb, etc…. These are you and me, and the people who need to be built into our church, but as yet, they aren’t here - They are “out there”.

 

Do you remember the former Glory?  This story from Haggai is not just for the people back from exile in 520 BC, but it is also for us.  take courage, all you people, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts, and His Holy Spirit is with us.  Notice that word, “WORK” ?  God won’t just built the church without us doing our part….  We need to work at it.  “Take courage”, he says – be encouraged because God is calling us now to work with him to build His house.  I truly believe this, and it will be an amazing move of God’s Spirit to accomplish it, and it will be a wonder to all who witness it.  God’s Spirit will accomplish it, but we need to do our part – our WORK.

 

Most importantly we are not building the church so that we have a bigger organization.   We are building the church of God because building the Temple of God is something we are called to make a priority.  It is a call from God.  The reason that God calls us to do this is because he loves…. Anthony, Sandra, Louise and Caleb… etc…  AND when these people are built into his house, they (and we) learn about God’s love and goodness, and we learn that His ways are the ways of true life and true blessing.  Just as when we make rules for our own children to prosper them and keep them safe, God’s ways are for our good also.

 

There are often many conflicting ideas about God, spirituality and life.  We even have spiritual expos where every idea except the truth is presented to a group of people who have a sense that there IS a spiritual realm, and they seem keen to know how the spiritual world works.  In the times of Jesus there were also many conflicting ideas about the spiritual realm, but he addresses some of these and makes some things very clear; Firstly, there IS a resurrection.  We do not die and become Angels.  I just had to make that clear, as I have heard people talking about deceased loved ones as being and Angel.  We are CHILDREN of God and remain children of God.  But, as Jesus said, we are LIKE Angels in that we cannot die anymore. 

 

Jesus was confronted by a group who wanted to know whose husband the woman would be, who had married each brother.  Jesus clarifies that “Those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage”.  He reminds them and us that when God spoke to Moses, he revealed himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  We understand from the text that these people are alive, meaning that they are truly alive and in heaven with God.   Heaven is God’s spiritual realm.  We are living in this physical realm, and our vision is limited to the physical…. We are all near sighted.  There is more that is real, and we can’t yet see it.

 

Saint Paul explains some more of God’s plan when he talks about the coming of the Lord and us being gathered together to him.  Jesus himself told us that he will come again, as did the Angels who spoke to those who were there when Jesus ascended to Heaven.  At each service we declare that Christ has died, is risen and will come again.  The early Christians thought that this would be in their lifetime.  Obviously, that is not God’s plan, but it is God’s plan and advice that we live as though he will come in our lifetime, because for someone, it will be in their lifetime and that may well be us.  Regardless of all the theories and ideas, we need to know God well enough to not be shaken or alarmed.  Saint Paul tells us that the rebellion comes first and the lawless one will be revealed, who decares himself to be God.  This to me, indicates that we are in for a bumpy ride and we are told to stand firm and hold fast to what has been taught through the scriptures.

 

We are certainly living in a time of unrest.  Some might even describe this time as one of rebellion. Whether it is or it isn’t should change who we are or what we do.  We are to stand firm in our faith.  Stand firm on the word of God.  Stand firm on our priority to build the house of God.  We have a job to do, and we need to take courage and work. Now is the time for restoration. 

 

We have a word from God today.  A word of hope and encouragement in the year of hope 25.  That word is this; “Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land, and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with splendour, says the LORD of hosts.  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.  The latter splendour of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts, and in this place I will give prosperity, says the LORD of hosts."

 

You and I are the silver and gold, refined by God and built into the church, but there are others…. Anthony, Sandra, Louise and Caleb.  They are precious gems that God requires for his temple.  Let us make an agreement with God, to work with him in building this house of God.  Let us ask him for his guidance and then let us listen to hear his direction….  Lord God, we want to bring the good news of your love to all.  Help us to do this.  Show us the way and give us the courage to follow through, so that those who are precious may be built into the house of God.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.

What is it worth? Proper 25 Pentecost 20 26th October 2025

2025  10  26  Proper 25 Pentecost 20

• Joel 2:23-32 and Psalm 65    2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:15-30

 

You may be thinking, “Here we go again… another scripture reading about riches and a warning against being rich”.  On a superficial level we could get the impression that to be a child of God means we need to be poor.  Jesus says it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. There are several layers of meaning to the phrase, “Kingdom of God”.  It does mean Heaven, where God is King, but it also refers to the reign of Christ when he comes again to rule the earth, and it also refers to an attitude in our hearts where we personally submit to the kingship of God in our lives.   In the context of our Gospel reading, it is this attitude in the heart of the rich man, with which Jesus was concerned.

 

The rich man was a good and excellent man.  He wanted to be in a right relationship with God.  He was also a man of authority.  He is introduced to us as a ruler, and he addresses Jesus as “good teacher”.  This begins an important discourse, revealing something of the rich man’s understanding.  Scripture tells us, all of mankind fall short of God’s goodness.  Therefore, to call someone good, was to either equate them with God or to erroneously believe that one could attain a state of goodness such that eternal life could be earned.   Before Jesus answers the question, he tries to show the man his error.  But the rich man had a sense of his own “Goodness”, and he possibly expected Jesus to tell him so, and affirm him.

 

The man had been a law-keeper since he was a boy.  He would have been a great person to know.  He most probably, is like many today, who believe they keep God’s commands – those upstanding citizens who we know and who are good people.  They are often our wonderful friends who don’t attend church and wonder why we do.  They believe that they are good people and will go to heaven when they die because they are good law-abiding citizens.  The message from Jesus is important for us to understand as it has eternal consequences.  These wonderful friends can’t quote the first and greatest commandment, but they will know things like don’t steal or murder.  These are the commandments that Jesus quoted to the rich man, who enthusiastically said he’d kept them since he was a boy.  He missed that Jesus was giving him an opportunity to realize the commandments that Jesus didn’t quote – in particular, the command that is stated in Deuteronomy 6:4-5  “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”  The rich man missed what Jesus was trying to teach, and so Jesus gets to the heart of the matter; “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  Does Jesus ask this of everyone? 

 

From the prophet Joel we have the famous reading that we hear each Pentecost about God pouring out His Spirit on all people.  A wonderful aspect of this reading from Joel, is the promise that God is bringing good things.  God states that He will repay for the years that the swarming locust have eaten.  It speaks of a time of lavish blessings.  God is our father who loves to bless and give good gifts to his children. 

 

A time that I learnt this was when my girls were little.  I was struggling financially as a single mum, and my two girls had a half sister who was turning one.  I couldn’t afford to buy anything, but I thought that the girls ought to send a present.  I prayed about it.  There out the front of Best and Less, on a ridiculously low-priced special, was a polished cotton, blue, baby girl dress, complete with matching rompers and headband.  Still praying about it, I purchased and mailed it off, also praying that it would arrive at just the right time.

 

Fast forward to the story on the other side- The girls’ father was looking after his baby girl and was taking her for formal photos for her first birthday.  He went to get something to dress her in but couldn’t find anything suitable.  He only had practical clothes and nothing “Pretty”.  While he was still busy looking and agonizing over what to do, there was a knock at the door – the parcel arrived – and in it the most beautiful little polished cotton, blue outfit.  Perfect for her photos.  

 

This event taught me loads!   First of all, God provides.  Secondly, God loves to give us abundantly more than we imagine.  A pretty outfit is not a necessity.  It is something special.  This was God’s lavish love at work.

 

God is lavish in His love for us and lavish in all that he gives us. The prophecy of Joel is about the way the God will lavish His gifts on us.  Not only does He provide for us in the hard times, but he delights to bring us into times of blessing.  What would this reading say for our church today….?  But wait… there is more… in those days, He will pour out His Spirit.  THIS is His most lavish gift for the Church.

 

We read this at Pentecost, and there is a connection to the Holy Spirit being poured out on our Church and God’s law.  Jesus left room in his conversation, for the rich man to speak about the first commandment, but it was overlooked.  The feast of Pentecost, before the Christian church began, was a Jewish festival and it still is, and Pentecost is known as the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot.  It is a festival celebrated 50 days after Passover.  It was originally an agricultural celebration of the first fruits harvest it became strongly associated with the commemoration of the giving of the ten commandments at Mount Sinai, which also occurred approximately 50 days after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. 

 

So, here we are talking about the commandments again – but also first fruits which was a command that the people give the first of their fruits to God.  What was missing in our Gospel reading is to give to God first – to love God first.  The Holy Spirit comes to write God’s law in our hearts.  We might not steal or commit murder, but we are all imperfect in our ability to love.  If the rich man really did love God perfectly, he would have been willing to sell all his possessions and go and follow Jesus.

 

What about us?  Many people who have nothing find hope in God.  They put their trust in him and know his provision, his goodness and love, but those who are attached to possessions, generally put their trust in these things….. We put our trust in these things…  Jesus asked the man to sell everything and give to the poor, not because he wanted the man to be poor, but that he wanted the man to understand the surpassing richness of God.  It isn’t the wealth that is the problem, but our hearts and our tendency to trust in wealth and not value the glorious riches we have in God. 

 

Saint Paul described his life as being poured out like a libation.  Saint Paul understood life in eternity, as being a reward far greater than riches.  For this reason, he was willing to suffer and endure many hardships.  In this world, many are willing to suffer and endure hardships to earn money.  Consider mining work; it isn’t easy and means living away from your family for some time, but many families make these sacrifices because the reward of the pay is worth it.  But do we have an understanding of eternity such that we can see that eternity is so worth it?   Saint Paul and so many others who were martyred for their faith lived the way they did because they knew it was worth it…. Eternal life is worth it… God’s love… is worth it. 

 

Jesus lamented how hard it is for the rich man to enter the kingdom of God, but also added that what is impossible for man, is possible for God.  There was an element that the rich man was missing, and it is an element that most of us miss as well.  When we think that we are… hmmm… well… pretty good, and when our lives are comfortable, we miss that we need a saviour.  

 

What must I do to inherit eternal life?  What must any of us do?  Firstly, we can’t “Inherit” eternal life unless we are related to him who owns eternal life.  God gave people the law to show us what is best and what is good and to show us his glory and goodness – but scripture tells us that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

 

The rich man needed to realize his need for a saviour.  His righteousness was self-righteousness and self-righteousness is a myth, as it bases our goodness on our own set of rules.  Pretty much, this is where most of the world is at now.  People will tell you that they are good.  Even those who are charged with crimes will tell you that they are actually good, according to their own version of the rules.  Eventually we need to wake up and see that if we want eternal life, God’s rules are the only ones that count and according to him, we all need a saviour!

 

Does God ask us all to sell our possessions and follow him?  He does ask us to have NO other gods before him and if that means selling all our possessions we must do it, because our eternal life is in peril.  If there are things, or people or hobbies, or activities in our life that keep us from whole heartedly following Jesus, we need to let those things go.   Even still, to inherit eternal life is impossible in, and of ourselves. We need a saviour because it is not something we can earn by our good deeds. 

 

The Good news is, that we DO have a saviour.  Jesus Christ.  We cannot live lives that are good enough, but God loves us and HE made a way.  Through baptism we are united to Christ, who perfectly kept the law, and what is impossible for us mere mortals, is possible for God.  Through our union with Jesus we become children of our God who lavishes us with every good gift.

 

Regardless of how hard we have things here, God declares He will repay for the years that the locust destroyed. The future is brighter than bright, rest assured.  But like Paul, keep fighting the good fight, living for God - giving all to him. Don’t fall off the track before the finish line.  Keep the faith!  Give to God our first and best – our allegiance, our heart!

Keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing! Proper 23C Pentecost 18 12th Oct 2025

 2025  10  12   Proper 23C  Pentecost

Jeremiah 29.1, 4-7 Psalm 66.1-11, 2 Timothy 2.8-15, Luke 17.11-19

 

Saint Paul wrote to Timothy and told him; “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David--that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, …..”  Timothy was in charge of the Christian community in Ephesus.  After being placed in charge, Paul tells him to remember Jesus Christ…. How odd!  How could the leader of a church forget? 

 

The central message of the Gospel is that Jesus Christ, descendant of David, rose from the dead.  We all need to be reminded, not to get side-tracked in issues, ideas, or superstitions, but we need to remember the Gospel message – which means that we need to keep the main thing, the main thing, …and the main thing is Jesus!  Jesus had a tracible genealogy.  We know that he was a descendant of the famous Israelite King, David, and he was born in the town of David, Bethlehem.  His parents had travelled there to be counted in the census as descendants of David. 

 

In our modern world of fake news and A I generations, it is important to know the truth.   And most important is the truth about Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ raised from the dead, a descendant of David – is our Gospel.  Unfortunately, the historical facts about Jesus have been put into the “religion” category, therefore, largely ignored, not taught and assumed by many to be nothing more than a myth.

 

I had not realized the extent to which people were unaware of the history about Jesus until recently when someone on facebook told me that the nearest DNA relatives to the Israelites are the Samaritans.   I found this kind of funny, because anyone who knows a little about the Bible, knows that the Samaritans were a mixed breed of the Jews, from when they went into exile.  This very thing is what Jeremiah is talking about when he tells the people to live in the cities in exile, mixing with the people and working side by side with them for the good of the city.  The facebook commentator’s point was that there is no validity to the nation of Israel.  I find this incredulous when the bible is full of genealogies and the race of Israel can be so perfectly traced.  In fact, the term “Semitic” comes from the son of Noah – remember Noah was the one who built the ark – he had a son called Shem and it is from this line that the Israelites came.

 

Jesus’ earthly existence has been verified.  He was written about by historians  - not just Christian ones.  Why is it the year 2025?  It is assumed to be 2025 years since the birth of Christ… the birth of Jesus.

 

An essential element in our Gospel message is to know that Jesus was a real person in history.  He was a man who walked this earth.  Another essential element of our Gospel message, is to know that Jesus rose from the dead.  Jesus was both man and God, and the implications of him dying on the cross and rising from the dead, means that the message of Jesus is reliable.  We are loved by God, and our life has an eternal purpose.  The resurrection seems incredible; however, the Bible tells us that Jesus appeared to over 500 people after he rose from the dead, and those were still alive when this fact was written about – those people could, and did, testify to that fact.  Many of them were put to death, in an effort to stamp out that fact or to make the witnesses deny that fact, but they didn’t deny him. 

 

Saint Paul quotes a faithful saying;  “For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.  If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.  If we deny Him,

He also will deny us.  If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” 

The early church knew the saying and they knew what it meant and they refused to deny Christ and the truth.  Many were faithful unto death.

 

How strong is our faith?  Can we remain faithful to God even if great persecution were to come against us?  The early Christians were put to death for their faith.  It is in this environment that Saint Paul exhorts Timothy to keep the main thing the main thing.  Jesus Christ who is both God and man, died to take away the sin of the world and he rose from the dead, declaring victory over death and eternal life for those who are the children of God – you and me.

 

Through our baptism we become children of God.  It is an actions that declares our response to the Gospel and through it we are united to Christ.  Therefore, we have died with him, and we will also live with him.  But it doesn’t stop there.  If we endure, we will also reign with him.  Baptism begins our spiritual, eternal life, and it doesn’t end with death.  There is a future that we yet don’t know, but if we endure, we will also reign with Christ.

 

In our baptism it is a little like the story of the ten lepers.  In our baptism we are declared the healed children of God – we are healed from the spiritual consequence of sin.  All the world is offered this healing.  Some respond and come to be baptised….  And all those who are baptised become the children of God.  So very loved and cherished by God. 

 

One leper, out of the ten, came back to give thanks to Christ.  The other nine were also healed but I guess we could say that they forgot to keep the Main thing, the main thing.   They were faithless, but God was still faithful – they were healed.  Being faithless is different to denying.   But it can be a slippery slope if we forget to keep the Gospel message central.

 

The people of God are to continue being faithful to God.  The people of Jeremiah’s time, had just gotten on with living their lives, distracted from the remembrance of the great things that God had done for them.  They didn’t become faithless overnight… but gradually as they let the word of God slide more and more, until they reached the point where they had been faithless, and were involved in practises that a faithful child of God should not be involved in.  The consequence was that many in the nation were taken into exile.  They were sent into exile and at that time Jeremiah reminded them to keep the Main thing, the Main thing.  God is still God and is still in control.  Whether they were in their own land or taken into a strange land to live, they were to be faithful to God… but what’s more, they were called to be blessed and be a blessing to that strange land.  The word of the Lord through Jeremiah to those people was; “multiply there, and do not decrease.  But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”   Multiply, seek the welfare of the city and intercede to God on it’s behalf. 

 

Every child of God is called to be an intercessor for their town – and country.  Every child of God is called to seek the welfare of their town, and every child of God is called to be fruitful and multiply.  For us as church, that means that we should continue to grow, continue to work with our community for the good of the town and PRAY for our town.  We must also keep the Gospel message central.  Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.  This is no small thing, and I suspect that many people in the generation growing up now don’t even know this Main Thing.  How can we help them to know?

 

Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  He was so well and truly dead, that when they pierced his side with a sword, blood and water came out.  That was the Friday.  By Sunday he had risen from the dead.  Christ has died.  Christ IS risen.  Christ WILL come again.  This is what we declare at every eucharistic service, and we mustn’t lose sight of how mind blowing this is.  More than mind blowing in itself, is the implications of this reality for us.  We are all offered forgiveness, the spiritual consequence of sin is taken away and we become children of this God who healed the sick and raised the dead…. And we are told that we will reign with him.  I feel like we all just need a moment to contemplate this…. We are children of God and heirs with Christ…

 

Christ has died and Christ is risen…. This is where we live – in this reality.  This is the Main thing, and he also sends His Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us.  Children of God we are now, through our baptism. Heirs with Christ we will be, if we endure. 

One day Christ will come again.  No one knows the day or time, but Jesus, who rose from the dead, declared it, and so we believe.  So, what are we doing today?  Are we the returning healed leper, giving God thanks?   Are we being faithful stewards of the spiritual gifts that he has given us? 

 

Tough times may be upon us, but God has great things planned for our future with him.  In the meantime, work and pray for the prosperity of our town.  Be blessed in this, and keep the MAIN thing, the main thing…Jesus Christ rose from the dead – This is our Gospel.

A kingdom perspective Pentecost 16 Proper 21 28th September 2025

2025  09  28  Proper 21 year C    

Jeremiah 32.1-3a, 6-15    Psalm 91.1-6. 14-16      1 Timothy 6.6-19       Luke 16.19-31

 

Following on from last week, this week’s readings continue to warn us about the LOVE of money, and we see a contrast between rich and poor, power and powerlessness.  St. Paul’s letter to Timothy tells us; “those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  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.”  There were rich and poor in the early church and everyone in between.  The early evangelists preached to everyone and people of all walks of life responded.  But some, whose priority was wealth, had walked away.

 

In the first reading we find a contrast, with the powerful King and the powerless prophet.  Jeremiah was placed in “confinement” in the palace.  The back story is that Jeremiah had prophesied to the King of Judah, Zedekiah, that the city would be given into the hands of the king of Babylon and that they would lose in their fight with the Chaldeans.  This came to be, yet the King was angry that Jeremiah had prophesied and locked him in the palace.  So here we have the one with power and the one without power, side by side.   But things are never as straightforward as they seem, and certainly, God’s economy in the Spiritual realm is different to that which is in the physical world.

 

Something that we need to understand and remember is that the Spiritual realm is part of this world.  God is with us always and there are powers and principalities at work that we can’t see.  Most importantly we must remember that God will have the last say.  The physical world decays, the spiritual does not.

 

Having great riches or not, was not a sign of being a follower of God or not, as great people of faith, such as Abraham and David were very rich, but riches or poverty or somewhere in between is simply a fact of living in the physical world.  And our challenge, following on from last week’s message, is to understand that we are simply managers or stewards of those riches.  God is the Master who calls us to give an account of how we have managed the riches of which he has entrusted to us  - whether that be our finances, our skills or talents.  

 

Saint Paul also has these words on the matter for Timothy; “…They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.”  In other words, our focus needs to be on the life that is really life… which is the Spiritual, eternal life.

 

 

We are all the children of God.  Some of us have realized it and responded to God, but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care about the others.  One of the riches that God has given us is the knowledge of him.  But what’s more, He has given us His Holy Spirit and all kinds of gifts that go along with that.  Are we being good stewards of these gifts? 

 

The Pharisees were wealthy, materialistically and they had God’s word.  In this environment, Jesus told a story about a man who was dressed in purple and fine linen.  These two things tell us that the man was both a King, as purple denote royalty, and a priest, as the priests were to wear linen.  Therefore, Jesus is talking about a man who belonged to the people of God… a royal child of God, who was also a person of faith – a priest - a servant of God.  You and I are this person!

 

This is an unusual parable because it names one character, Lazarus.  His name means, “God has helped”.   This deliberate naming implies that no one else has helped him, only God.  It is also significant that the rich man knew Lazarus’ name and the rich man knew Moses and the Prophets.  The rich man is no outsider to the ways of God, as far as knowledge goes, and he lived his life in both physical and spiritual comfort and security, feeling reassured that God was on his side.  He was, however, not a good steward of his riches.  He did not care for those in need who he even knew by name – Lazarus. 

 

Going back to our Old Testament, King Zedekiah had responsibility for the kingdom of Judah.  He had been given riches and a position of power and authority.  As the king of Judah, he was also in a position of power over the people’s faith.  King Zedekiah refused to listen to the word of God and his mis-management of his position meant that not just him, but the kingdom also would suffer.  King Zedekiah knew Jeremiah by name.  Jeremiah’s prophecy had been proved correct, yet King Zedekiah still refused to change his ways.  Why?  What can we learn from this?

Some questions we need to ask ourselves and God are;  Am I refusing to help someone that God wants me to help?  Am I refusing to be corrected?  Am I being a responsible steward of the riches that God has given me?

 

We may not be poor, but we may feel powerless.  King Zedekiah had power, and Jeremiah was confined by that power.  Jeremiah had no internet to enable him to get his word out to others.  He could only tell the king and those in the palace and they weren’t listening.  Jeremiah and Lazurus were both helped by God. 

 

The word of God came to Jeremiah and when his cousin came to ask him to buy a field, Jeremiah knew what God’s message was.  It was a message of hope.  Can you imagine the scene? it would have been a pretty weird meeting.  This guy outside, coming into see the palace prisoner to ask him to buy a field.  The whole land was suffering as it had been besieged.  So, the land Jeremiah was purchasing would have meant buying land that was completely useless and under the control of a foreign power, but the message of God was to buy this field.  Why?  Because God has the last word.  Though there is destruction and darkness all around, there is always hope for the people of God.  For some time, this land would be inaccessible for Jeremiah, but in time there would again be vineyards.  Jeremiah might not have been very wealthy, yet what he did with what he had was to follow God’s direction and spend it on a field that for many years would not see the fruit.

 

We may feel like we are in that same kind of position for our church… and our country.  There has been a shadow over our church due to the sins of another.  And even our country is divided and seems to be going in a direction that denies God’s ways.  What is God’s word to us?  For the people listening to Jeremiah, it was that after this disaster there would again be life and growth.   God always has the last word.

 

In the final scene of our Gospel reading, after both the rich man and Lazarus had died, the rich man intercedes for his brothers who are still living and asks that someone be sent back to life to warn them.  Abraham responds; 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"  This is Jesus telling the story and also telling us what would happen to him. 

 

In fact, God has given every possible proof to mankind, but there will always be some who do not believe.  That doesn’t mean that God stops trying to reach them.  It is made explicit in the Old Testament, that those who receive the word of God, if they don’t pass it on, will be held accountable for the lives of the ones they were meant to pass it on to.  That is why Jeremiah prefers confinement in the palace rather than freedom but at the expensive of lives. 

 

Many people who come to faith, do so after being completely opposed to faith for many years.  In fact, their hearts could be said to be “In Exile”… but invest in those people…in faith… buy that plot of land …. Use our wealth, our skills our talents, like good and responsible stewards to sow seeds of faith in that ground.  Understand that the land is besieged by the enemy.  Yet we invest with hope knowing the word of God does not return void but will accomplish God’s will.  Not immediately, but one day, that seed will flourish. 

 

In the last sentence of our Gospel, we understand that Jesus knew that there would be people who would still refuse to believe even if someone came back from the dead.  That didn’t stop him going to the cross.  He was the word of God made flesh, and he would atone for the sin of the world and rise from the dead, bringing us our greatest wealth, eternal life.  Jesus made spiritual life and eternity the priority.  We too, need to have a Kingdom mindset.

 

Jeremiah’s King, Zedekiah was entrusted with ensuring the wellbeing of the nation.  He was also given the word of God through Jeremiah – more valuable than all his wealth and power.  He confined that word and kept it in his palace.  In the same way, the rich man in Jesus’ story kept his wealth.  You and I have been given the word of God also, and we are given the great treasure of salvation…. Eternal life.  We are wealthy beyond compare!  There are many poor in our community – poor in the word of God.  Are we sharing our wealth with them?  The dogs licked the sores of Lazarus, and it is the world who gives comfort to those in the world who are without our wealth of eternity.  Is it possible that they are comforted with drugs and alcohol, while we keep their healing confined in our palace, the church?

 

We are called to invest in that field, barren and tough though it might be.  We are called to pass on the gift of salvation – eternal life.  We have it and it is the greatest treasure.  How is God specifically calling us today, to be faithful and responsible with all that he has given us?  Let’s take a moment to silently take this to God in prayer.

A good steward Proper 20 Pentecost 15 21st Sept 2025

 2025  09  21    Proper 20   Pentecost 15

Jeremiah 8.18-9.1     Psalm 79.1-9     1 Timothy 2.1-10    Luke 16.1-13

 

A few years ago a movie came out called “Shazam”.  It was about a family of foster kids and one in particular who was chosen to inherit a dying wizard’s magical powers to fight the previously imprisoned and now released demons.  Those demons were the seven deadly sins: Lust, Sloth, Pride, Wrath, Gluttony, Greed and Envy.  In our Gospel reading today, we are told that you can not serve both God and Mammon.  Serving Mammon is the sin of Greed.

 

While it makes a great story to have these sins personified as demons, and clearly defined, in everyday experience, the influence of those “demons” are sneaky and entice us to a path of destruction that looks like a path paved with gold.   The Israelites of Jeremiah’s time didn’t see their acts as leading to destruction.  Then, it was too late.

 

The opening from our reading from Jeremiah is this; “My joy is gone; grief is upon me; my heart is sick.”  Jeremiah looked at his beloved nation.  They had strayed from following God.  Many were in exile, and he refers to them as the “daughter of my people”…   He refers to her, like a grandfather.  Now as a grandmother myself, there are some things that I understand.  As a grandparent, all that love and worry and care that you had for your own children is just as present with your grandchildren, but the difference is that you have a lot less say and control over the circumstances.  When you can see things going wrong, it is heartbreaking, and this is where Jeremiah is at.  He has seen the actions of the nations and knew the long-term consequences, but he was powerless to change them… the overseers were not listening.

 

I wonder if there are times that you might look at our own nation and feel, ““My joy is gone; grief is upon me; my heart is sick.”  Those who govern have a tough job, to oversee and make hard decisions, and even unpopular ones, but ones that will prosper the nation.  Responsible stewards, must make decisions for the good of the nation rather than decisions based on keeping their own seats, and keeping themselves in a job with well lined pockets….

 

We, like Jeremiah, may mostly feel powerless to step in an save the nation when we see things going the wrong way.  Both in the case of grandchildren and our nation, we can’t change the events or manipulate the outcome, because each one of us has God given free will, and we need to respect that free will.  However, like Jeremiah, there is always something we can do.  What is God calling us to do?  Jeremiah was called to speak.  He did this with love and because of love.  And we too, can, and must sow into the future, by our God directed actions.

 

In our Psalm the situation is the same.  The Psalmist is grieved because of the situation of the nation, and the psalmist turns to God and implores his intervention.  A good reminder for us in times that we feel that despair and feel that sense that the situations are beyond our control.  A sign in the Mercy Seville centre says; “Don’t think that just a few good people can’t change the world, for indeed that is all who ever have.”  A good thing to remember as we navigate dark times.

 

Saint Paul, in his letter to Timothy, tells us that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for everyone.  Prayer gives God permission to act.  Prayer helps us know which action to take, and through it we become people of faith and hope and people who witness miracles.  Special mention is made of praying for kings and those in positions of power.   We can, and are meant to pray for our Government, but what should be the focus of our prayer?

 

God wants all to come to knowledge of him and salvation through Christ.  From Timothy;  “…God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth…” Our prayers for our leaders are this; that they will come to accept that salvation that is offered to them in Christ.  Our leaders have a tough job.  They are overseers who are called and chosen to be responsible over much.  They are called to be people of integrity and good stewards over all of which they are in charge.

 

Jesus tells the story of an overseer, a manager, who has been accused of squandering his master’s wealth and not being a responsible steward.  He is told that he will lose his job, but he needs to show his accounting to his master.  So, the man sets out to make things right.  Commentaries suggest that in cutting the bills for the debtors, the debtors believe the manager is acting on the master’s behalf and therefore the master’s honour is raised in their eyes.  The master is aware of this and praises the actions of the manager.  The manager is also seen as a loyal and honourable servant by the debtors.  Yes, he was being manipulative, but he was using wealth to sow into his future.  He won approval by using wealth to help both his master and the debtors – and himself.   It was a win, win, win situation. 

 

The sentence that seems most out of place in our Gospel is this; “make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone they may welcome you into the eternal homes.”   To put this in context; tax collectors were seen as unsavoury characters because their job was about ‘dishonest wealth’  - in a religious context, to have this almost obsession was perceived as sinful.  Having great wealth was NOT sinful, as Abraham and many others were incredibly wealthy, but to have a business where the only concern was money – was seen as… hmmm … well, working for the demon of Greed (Mammon). (Also, the tax collectors were somewhat seen as traitors working for the Romans). 

 

When Jesus says “Make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth”, The outcome is so that we will be welcomed into eternal homes– in other words, invest that wealth in eternity.  What do you think is the way we can use money to impact, such that we are welcomed into eternal homes?

 

We are to use our wealth to sow into the Kingdom.   In other words, we need to wisely deal with wealth to enable us to feed the poor.  God’s concern is for the needy.  But also, we know that God’s concern, even more so, is for the salvation of all.  Therefore, we need to be sowing into programs that are evangelistic – such as Religious Instruction in schools and outreach programs and events like the Gospel Garden Party, The Light Party.  Care initiatives such as the Op Shop and Coffee ministry and other activities where we connect with people.  When we sow into promoting faith, we grow the kingdom.  When we feed the poor, we are being the children of God.  

 

Today we are challenged to think about our own personal sowing into the kingdom of God.  In the Bible the principle is to give God a tithe… that is to give a tenth of our income to God.   What we give is between us and God, but we owe our eternal life to God…. Our whole life.  What is that worth?  And what part should we sow into the concerns of God – into his kingdom?

 

Is our world suffering from a lack of understanding about who God is and his ways?  In everything that God has done, His desire is for people to be saved; to come into relationship with him.  The question is; how can we bring the good news of God’s love and salvation to the people around us?  How can we be wise stewards of the wealth (not just financial, but in knowledge), that God has given us.  We are that servant called to give account.  God is the Master. 

 

In the movie, Shazam, the foster kid, Billy, discovered that he needed to share his power with his foster brothers and sisters.  He overcame the seven deadly sins, not on his own, but through the shared responsibility.  We too, need each other.  We need to work together to invest in the Kingdom… financially, but also in all ways.  What exact way God wants us to invest is something we need to pray about.  What is our part in this?  And what is MY part in this?

 

We CAN make a difference, and we are called to make a difference.  We are ALL called to be faithful managers of the Gospel.  None of us are called to watch others do something… we are all called to some action.  All that we are– our skills, talents, knowledge etc and all that we have is ultimately God’s, but he has made us the managers or stewards of all that we are and have.  Are we faithful, responsible and being good managers?  God loves and blesses us.  With his blessings we can do immeasurably more than we can imagine.