Giving Stewardship
Sermon Note from Bishop Rimbo
St. Matthew 25:14-30
In one sense, this parable is easy for contemporary readers to understand. It is about investments and high yields. Those who play the stock market will immediately recognize the value of risk and high reward. The slave who is fearful of the market is likewise easy to understand. There are many stories from Wall Street that prove how prudent the fearful or cautious approach can be.
But this parable is far more disturbing than that. We are drawn along to have appreciation for a master who is gracious with his servants. In response to the first two slaves and their success in doubling the master’s money, they are praised and rewarded with both a share in the joy of the master and a promotion to greater responsibility. This seems appropriate and fair. To this point the story makes sense. We are accustomed to this sort of thing.
But, when we hear of the master’s harsh response to the third slave, the parable turns sour. The
master responds in what seems to be a cruel manner to the slave who pursued the path of prudence. This one chose not to run any risk with his master’s money. He played it safe. He hid and preserved it. This is what a careful person would typically have done with a great treasure. The treasure given this servant was one talent, an exorbitant sum of money worth a lifetime’s wages. So there is no surprise in the servant’s motive: it is fear. Who would dare to risk such a treasure in the marketplace, especially when the owner is known to be shrewd and demanding? The slave here was merely being judicious in choosing not to risk the master’s money. Sadly, it did not increase. But, neither did it decrease. In the end, the master received back no more than what was properly due him. And yet, the third slave is severely punished. The listener is left to wonder about this fickle master who is both gracious and ruthless.
Matthew’s Jesus does not present the story with a morally acceptable climax, in my opinion. His
purpose is not to speak of human justice, but the reign of God which will not be as we expect it to be. It is not simply about justice and morality. It also has to do with shrewd, even risky action.
A little context might help. This parable is the sixth in a series of seven. Together, they constitute
Matthew’s picture of the end of the world. They provide warnings about the imminence of the coming of God’s Son and exhortations about the need to remain vigilant. This parable suggests that diligence in discipleship is expected in the kingdom of heaven. A follower of Christ does not simply wait in fearful anticipation of the coming of the end. The kinds of activity expected of a disciple are spelled out in the surrounding parables. The message in the preceding story of the ten virgins is that a disciple should remain awake and alert. And the story that follows this one, the parable of the last judgment, indicates that works of love and mercy are signs of true discipleship.
This is a disturbing parable. It does not deliver what the audience wants. But, while it alarms the
listener, it also brings the listener into contemplation of discipleship. And, as Matthew’s gospel makes clear repeatedly, it shows that discipleship is not easy.
The parable is disturbing in another way, especially to Lutheran ears. On its surface, this story seems to suggest that favor in the kingdom of heaven is something to be earned. “Well done, good and faithful servant,” is the praise given only to the slaves who, at great risk, invested the money and received 100 percent interest. The successful slaves are the ones who enter into the joy of their master. The one who did nothing with his money was rebuked and punished. It appears that the parable supports the notion that one must earn favor with God. In other words, it might seem to suggest that the diligent will be saved and the lazy or fearful condemned. It’s clear that Matthew did not read Luther’s Works.
But…look again. Never take the Bible or Jesus at face value. The parable is not about what must be done in order to be saved. It’s not about making up for one’s sinfulness by a sufficient amount of good works. The thrust of this parable is not on repaying a debt. It’s about responsible action in light of the master’s eventual return. The grace in this story comes up front, in the form of the giving of talents to all of the servants in the first place. The exhortation in the story is the call to faithful use of what the master has so graciously given.
Which makes it a great story for this stewardship emphasis. I could ask, “Are you investing what God has entrusted you with in the work of the Kingdom? Or are you burying it under a rock?” I know many, including leaders of our synod, are making such godly investments. But I think the point of the parable is much bigger than just finances. I think it’s about entering into the joy.
It is sometimes suggested that the best way of avoiding all mistakes is to do nothing at all. Nothing ventured, nothing lost. If we don’t speak our mind, we’ll never be wrong. If we don’t try anything new, we’ll never fail. If we don’t reach out to anyone, we’ll never be rejected. If we never step out of our own little world, our own comfort zone, we’ll never look foolish. The parable makes the point that sometimes to do nothing at all can be the biggest of all mistakes.
This Gospel reminds us that we are all talented, that we are all of great value to God, that we know and feel the joy already. When we hear and taste and see that Christ’s body and blood were given and shed for us, we are reminded of just how valuable we are. In the cross and resurrection, God gives us the greatest of all talents—the vision to see new life in a world full of death...the joy of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, today I ask: What are we doing with this talent, this gift we receive today in the Holy Eucharist, this reality that is the center of our lives? We are called to use all the gifts God has given us and especially the greatest gift we have: this amazing relationship with God in Jesus, crucified and risen from the dead. That’s the heart of stewardship. Enter into this joy.
Bishop Robert Alan Rimbo
