Investment Advice

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Bulletin: February 19, 2012
The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

Scriptures: Proverbs 24:30-34, Psalm 135:1-3, Matthew 25:14-29

Songs:

  1. Praise: Lavish Love, Abundant Beauty (lyrics, melody, author, 2, publication on worship)
  2. Preparation: I Cannot Tell (lyrics & melody, video, author)
  3. Response: Come All Christians, Be Committed (lyrics & melody video - click on CC for subtitles), 2, author, devotional)

Rev. Mark McKim

Investment Advice from Jesus Christ

Remember the 1987 film “Wall Street?” It starred Michael Douglas, playing the role of Gordon Gekko. Gekko is an thoroughly unscrupulous, ruthless corporate raider. There’s a famous scene in the film where he tells his eager young protégé, played by Charlie Sheen “Greed…is good.” When you first read the parable in this Sunday’s New Testament lesson that may well be what comes to mind! It sounds like Jesus is saying that the rich deserve to get more and the poor deserve to lose even the little they have. Huh?

Remember though this is a parable. A parable is a distinct kind of storytelling, in which there is one main point, and with Jesus that point always had to do with the Kingdom of God. (The Kingdom of God was the central theme of the preaching of Jesus. It means: “whenever and wherever the rule, the reign, the will of God is accomplished.”) If you miss that main point, get bogged down in the details of the story and try to assign a meaning to everything, you will be totally confused!

So the main point of this parable? In the Kingdom, spending time, money or energy does not result in having less – but in having more.

The person who hoards what he/she has, the play-it-safe, cautious investor will lose even that.

That, says Jesus, is a terrible, shrivelled way to live! In fact, it’s not really living at all. If you want to really live, and discover your true self, you need to spend your time, your money, and your energy working to see the Kingdom of God realized. You need to cross the finish line of life like a race driver in a long distance car rally – screeching across the finish line sideways, one tire missing, thoroughly worn out, leaking oil, and shouting “What a ride!”

Have Some Fun

Check out the Parable of the Talents quiz.

 
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