Christ Lutheran Church: Welcome

Invest NOW?! - November 16, 2008

Invest NOW?!

Matthew 25:14-30

November 16,

2008 Rev. Dave R. Garwick

Last Christmas my sister gave me a very unusual gift. It was a certificate for $25 to be invested in any of several thousand start up companies. This provides a way for small ventures to gain capitol that would otherwise be hard to find. It give little folk like me the opportunity to maybe play a part in giving someone a chance. And, it also provides an inexpensive way to start gaining some experience in investing. At any time I can cash in or trade off or add in.

Last week we had lunch and she asked me if I had invested that certificate. I was really embarrassed. I told her that I had misplaced it all year and only just came across it last month.

"So, did you invest it?"

"Uh, not yet." She was pretty good about hiding her disappointment. But I feel kind of chagrined FOR her. Here she had spent $25 of her own money. For something that was really creative. That really could have helped someone. And I just let it go.

She could tell I was feeling a little awkward, so she explained, "I was only asking because I was wondering if I should do the same thing this year for Christmas - if it was a good idea."

I wonder if that certificate is still good. Or have I missed the boat? I DO have it, it DOES have my name on it. It hasn't done me any good this year though. I wonder it it's too late.

The Gospel Lesson that we just read is about what is called "the end time" - when Jesus comes and that's it: the book is closed and everybody gets their eternal assignments: from that moment on you will live for the rest of eternity in hell or heaven.

And as soon as I say something like "end times" everybody gets off track with one question and one question only. If I have heard it one this week I've heard it half a dozen times" "With the way things are in the world right now - all the wars and the economy and everything - do you think THESE are the end times?"

Even though the Bible says that we are to pray for our leaders, I have heard at least six Christian Republicans say that Barak Obama is the anti-Christ or that he will probably be the cause of the end of time. And I also heard Democrats threaten the same thing if McCain had won.

Well, I can guarantee you that if so many people are asking if these are the end times, then these definitely are NOT the end times, since Jesus and Paul said that Jesus would come when we LEAST expect it. So, keep the questions coming folks - that may hold things for a bit.

Except that, WHY would you want to do that if you really believed in heaven and your place in heaven?

These things Jesus promised: He IS coming and He will arrive when we least expect him: He has already guaranteed your reservation in heaven with His death on the cross and His choice of you in Holy Baptism.

You have your ticket and the train is arriving. The only thing you have to worry about is being ready to go when He arrives to pick you up to take you home.

And yow are you to get ready? Well, that is what Jesus told this parable to answer. You've all heard the expression that, "You cant' take it with you." Take that as a clue. The long and the short of it is that He has loaned each of us certain resources: money, skills, what have you. He did not lean these things to us in order for us to keep them. He has loaned these things to us to invest it for returns to the Master.

When He returns He will ask how you invested what He loaned you. If you feel as badly as I do for ignoring my sister's gift, then can you imagine what I would feel answering the same way before God?

Imagine Jesus asking the same thing when He comes. "Did you invest what I had loaned you: the money, your place in the world, your influence, your skill?"

"Did you invest what I gave you - forgiveness, hope, faith, the Good News - did you pass it on, did you produce yields for the Kingdom where I planted you?"

Well, He has not called you to account yet. So there is still time to invest. Take stock of what He has loaned you, what He sacrifices to give you. Invest it for Him...before He comes to ask you what you did with it.

If you are looking for a nifty way to invest in a hurry, check out the alternative Christmas display in the narthex where you can make cash contributions to needy people all over the world and you can give these as Christmas gifts in the name of loved ones.

If you ask if these times are the end times, then maybe someone is tapping you on the soul. The train's coming. Your place is reserved. No carry-on baggage allowed at all.

And as you board, you will be asked to report on your investments. What'cha gonna do?