Pastor Steve Bauer

This is the sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. The sermon text is: James 2:1-13. The sermon theme is: Are Christians Domineering or Doormats? Here is the Written Sermon.

The first will be last...The last will be first

Are Christians Domineering or Doormats?

If ever there were a place where there should be peace, it should be your church. If ever there were a place where you would find people who know you, appreciate you and treat you well, it should be your congregation. But, what if it isn’t? What if it’s a place where people don’t get along? In the opening words of James, chapter 2, James writes these words about the members of his own congregation: “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”” (James 2:1–4 NIV)

James accuses them of discrimination. And he even shows us what it looked like. A rich man comes in and some of the members say to him “good, you sit here.” And then a poor, even dirty man comes into the church. And they say to him: “You stand there in the corner” or “You sit here on the ground by my feet.”

We look at this picture and we say to ourselves: What give them the right? What gives them the right to be domineering bullies? But, we could very well ask ourselves the same question. What gives you the right? Some of the most domineering bullies out there are Christians. And you can tell them by what they say. They use phrases like this: “This is what you’re gonna do.” Where’s the discussion? Where’s the looking at the issue in light of God’s word? No, This is what you’re gonna do. Or maybe you’ve heard that phrase “yeah, but…” So, you speak to a fellow member and you say, “This is what God’s word says.” And their response is “Yeah, but…” What they are saying is “I know that God’s word is clear in this issue, but I’m now going to start bullying you.”

Now, if you’ve heard words like these from your own lips, or from the lips of your fellow Christians, what is the proper response? What does James say to his fellow Christians: “have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:4 NIV) What was James’ response? He told them that they were sinning. They were evil judges. So also, God’s word says the same thing to you and me. When we discriminate, when we bully, when we are domineering, we are sinning.

But notice where James goes from there. Yes, he brings out the problem. But he also speaks about the solution. Why are people—even Christians bullies? Very often it’s because they need control. They need a safe, manageable kingdom to rule. Notice how James doesn’t just address the problem. He also addresses why the problem is there and what the solution is: “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5 NIV)

James is telling them ‘there is no need to bully, domineer and carve out a kingdom for yourself.” Why? Because they had a kingdom. Even though they were worth nothing to the world, they were worth everything to our Father above. And he showed it by choosing them to be rich. Oh, in what way were they rich? They were heirs not of banks or land or stocks and bonds—no, they were heirs of God’s kingdom. And he promised that to them. And this is yours by faith—not the choice you made, but the gift of trust he gave to you so that you know Jesus and all he has done for you.

And this morning James says the same to you: ‘there is no need to bully, domineer and carve out a kingdom for yourself.” Why? Because you have a kingdom. He chose you even though you are worth nothing to the world. He chose you by faith, as a free gift. He chose you to be rich, not necessarily with stocks and bonds, but with God’s kingdom. What is God’s kingdom? It’s Jesus delivering us from sin, death and the devil. And how do we know all of this is true? How do we know we don’t need to push, bully and domineer anymore? Because he promised all this to us.

What a beautiful sermon for James to preach and for us to hear. We don’t need to be domineering bullies because we have the kingdom. We have deliverance from sin. But James isn’t done yet. He says to his congregation: “But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?” (James 2:6–7 NIV)

James speaks to these dear ones whom he loves as a pastor and his heart is in pain over them. They discriminate and domineer and bully. They give the best places of honor to the rich people. And here’s the huge irony: these are the very same ones who are bullying them. And just look at how evil these rich people were: They exploited these Christians and they dragged them into court. If someone exploited you and sued you for no reason, what would you do? Would you make others stand in corners so that these evil people might sit in the best places? NO.

So, these rich people sued these Christians. But, they did something even worse. They blasphemed Jesus. Literally, these words read: “Aren’t they the ones who are blaspheming the beautiful name which was called over you?”¹ So, the first question we ask is this: what is the ‘name that is called over’ someone? When is it that God’s name is spoken over you and placed on you? Most likely, here James is referring to Baptism. These rich people were making fun of their baptisms and their Savior, Jesus. And instead of defending God’s word and their Savior, what did they do? They pushed the poor to the side and gave these bullies the best seats.

Do you see the point that James is making? Being Domineering is a sin. But so is being a doormat. Just as people blasphemed the name that was called over them, so also do people blaspheme the name that is called over us. It is a sin when people blaspheme our baptisms and then expect us to worship with them.

My brothers and sisters, do you realize that in 2007, Pope Benedict declared that all the sacraments performed in non-Roman Catholic churches are invalid²}. The Catholic church publicly says that your baptism isn’t valid–that it didn’t really happen. And yet, when they invite you to pray with them and you say ‘no’, they make you feel so much guilt and shame.

So also with evangelical churches, the same is true. Do you realize that most evangelicals say that your baptism is invalid because you were baptized when you were a tiny child. They blaspheme the name that was called over you in your baptism and then they make you feel guilty that they can’t come to the Lord’s Supper with you in this church.

Just as it’s a sin to be Domineering, it’s also a sin to be a Doormat. And yet, time and time again, I hear of Christians–yes even in this congregation–who will rejoice in the name that was called over them in their baptisms and then they will go and worship with friends or relatives who blaspheme what Jesus gave you in your baptisms. Instead of speaking out against their blasphemy they worship with him. Again, it’s a sin to be Domineering. But it’s just as much a sin to not stand up for what is true, good and right. It’s just as much a sin to be a Doormat.

As we travel back to these words here in James, notice how James deals with the Christian Doormats in his congregation: “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:12–13 NIV)

Mercy triumphs over judgment! No doubt, these Christians felt doubly judged and condemned. They were guilty of being domineering. They were guilty of being doormats. Where could they go with all of their sin? They went to their Father in heaven, clinging to, trusting in his mercy. They rejoiced that the forgiveness that God offered and gave to them in their baptism is still theirs. They still have the kingdom. They are still delivered from sin, death and the Devil. And today, as we see that we are doubly condemned for being Domineering and Doormats, we go to the same place. We cling to and trust in God’s mercy. We rejoice that when that pastor so many years ago spoke the name of the Triune God over us, he offered and gave to us the forgiveness of sins.

So then, by brothers and sisters, are Christians Domineering or are they Doormats? We are neither. We are Delivered. Now live as one whom Jesus has delivered from sin, death and the devil. Let yourself be humbled that God may lift you up. And be bold and courageous and fighting for and defending all the gifts God has given to you. Amen.

¹ οὐκ αὐτοὶ βλασφημοῦσιν τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς;

² MSNBC: msnbc.com news services, Tues., July 10, 2007: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19692094

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 Pentecost 15 [18:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is the sermon for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. The sermon text is: Isaiah 66:18-24. The sermon theme is: Why is Heaven So Unfair?. Here is the Written Sermon

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door

Why is Heaven So Unfair?

The book of Jonah is a very important book. And, while Jonah is indeed swallowed by a big fish, which is what most of us remember about the book. It is nevertheless a minor part of the book. In the beginning of the book the Lord goes to Jonah and tells him to preach the gospel to the people of Nineveh. When Jonah hears this, he instead gets on a boat, heading toward Tarshish (Spain). And as soon as he gets onto this boat, we are asking ourselves: “Why?” Why are you running away from the Lord, Jonah. Finally, everything catches up with Jonah. And he answers the question for us: (Jonah 4:2 NIV) “He prayed to the Lord, “O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

If you listen closely, you can hear Jonah’s objection. Jonah was angry at God. Why? Because God was unfair. He was ever-so angry at God because God would give heaven to a people who didn’t deserve it. These were the Ninevites, the leaders of Assyria. Assyria was a powerful, wicked, disgusting nation. They did not deserve salvation. They did not deserve heaven. And yet, the Lord chose to give it to them anyway.

If there is a thread and a theme that we see running through these last words in the book of Isaiah, that’s it. How unfair! How unfair heaven is. In the opening words of our first reading, Isaiah tells us: ““I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.” (Isaiah 66:19 NIV)

There are a number of details in this verse. And it’s important that we understand the two unfair thoughts that flow through these words. First, the Lord says: “I will send some of those who survive to the nations.” The Survivors are the ones who survived the exile. They are the ones who stubbornly refused to repent. They refused throw away their pagan, evil gods and turn to the Lord. So the Lord sent the Assyrians to conquer them and scatter them. Then, he sent the Babylonians to do the same. Many, many Jews went to Babylon as a conquered people. And yet, what does the Lord do? He chooses some of them. He turns their hearts toward him. He causes them to see their sins. He causes them to see the suffering Savior that Isaiah speaks of in chapter 53 of his book. The Lord causes them to see a Savior who pierces, crushed and dies in their place. He moves them to rejoice in this fact. For it means that now they have heaven. And finally, he then sends them out into the world to share God’s word. How unfair! How unfair it is that God would take these people who have rebelled against him again and again and again and give heaven to them! And yet, that’s exactly what he did. We have a word for that, don’t we? We call it grace. Grace is God’s undeserved loved.

And that leads us to the second thought in this verse. If it’s unfair that God would choose to forgive, convert and cherish his rebellious Jews, just look at what he does with the Gentiles! Even though most of the Jews choose to hate and reject the Lord, nevertheless, he takes these survivors, these refugees and sends them across the globe. Why? He sends them so that they can share in this privilege of sharing God’s word with the pagan Gentiles. And look what happens then. In verse 20, Isaiah says: “And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the Lord. “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels. And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says the Lord.” (Isaiah 66:20–21 NIV)

The Lord doesn’t just bring these Gentiles to faith. He makes them co-heirs of heaven with the Jews. Oh, how unfair this must have seemed to them! It was horrible for Jonah to think that the Lord would let the Ninevites into heaven at all. But, to think that these Gentiles would not be less than the Jews in heaven, but instead, at the same status and the same level as these Jews—there’s only one word for that: unfair!

But, oh, my brothers and sisters, we can fall into the same trap. There might be the day when you go out to a bar and grill to eat. And you see a man there who has drunk way too much. He’s telling dirty jokes and saying stupid things. And then what happens? He shows up in your church the next day. How unfair. Why does he even bother? There might be the member of your church who comes here only a coule times a year. He shows up and pretends everything is just “A-OK.” How unfair! Why does he even bother. There might be that person who shows up to your bible study who hasn’t been there before. And what does she do? She does nothing but ask a bunch of stupid questions and you can’t get anywhere in class that day. How unfair! Why does she even bother?

But, even as we ask the question, the better person to ask the question about is not them—but you. Why should the Lord bother with me? Why should the Lord forgive me? I did nothing to earn that forgiveness. How unfair! Why should the Lord search me out and find me? I did not even move toward him in the slightest. How unfair! Why should the Lord tell me about a suffering Savior who took my sins on himself and gave to me peace and joy? I did not deserve it. How unfair. Why should the Lord give me faith? I didn’t even ask for it. How unfair! Yes, indeed, how unfair. But how gloriously true. God gives heaven to you. We call that word grace—God’s undeserved love.

It’s so unfair. It’s unfair that we or anyone would have heaven. And, just when we think that that is the only issue that is unfair, Isaiah changes the subject. In the final words of the book of Isaiah, the Lord tells us: ““And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”” (Isaiah 66:24 NIV)

If God’s grace seems strange and unfair, then what about God’s justice? For that is what we see in these words. Isaiah paints for us a picture of heaven. If we ask the question: “what will we do in heaven”, Isaiah gives us an answer. In heaven, day by day, we will go out and look at those in hell. We will look at those who rebelled against the Lord. We will see what hell is really, truly like. It is a place where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Just think about that. The worm does not die. Right now, there are worms on our pear trees. They are disgusting to look at. But, at least I know this. They will die. In hell, the ugliness unbelievers hide on the inside will be shown on the outside. Likewise, the fire will not be quenched. The most painful thing a person can endure is to be burned. And, in hell the burning and the pain will never end. The saints in heaven see this on a daily basis and what is their reaction? They say “amen.”

You see, there are so many people today, even many Christians who hate these words. They say that it’s unfair. It’s unfair that God would send so many decent people to hell. What they fail to understand is that God is giving to them the only thing they want. They hate him with all of their heart and strength. And so, the only thing left for him to do is to give them what they want. This is what life apart from Christ looks like: The ugliness of the worm that does not die and the pain of the fire that is not quenched.

My brothers and sisters, this is exactly what you pray for every Sunday. Luther reminds us that when we pray “Thy kingdom come” what we are praying for is this: “[that] Your kingdom may triumph among us. And we pray that the devil’s kingdom be put down.”¹ He reminds us that when we pray “Thy kingdom come” we also, of necessity, pray “deliver us from evil.” What does ‘delivering from evil’ look like? It means that, if the kingdom of heaven wins, then the kingdom hell lose. It means that if, Jesus’ kingdom endures and grows, then Satan’s kingdom is confined and then punished—and not just Satan, but also everyone who puts their trust in him.

And so, my brothers and sisters, as you leave here today, ponder these words. Know that hell is the very description of fair. For there is no more fitting place for those who hate God than in a place where their ugliness will be shown forever and they will feel their pain forever. Know this fact. But, even more so, know that the Lord is so very unfair to you. In his grace he has forgiven your sins—even the times we despise his word. Let us then look forward to that day when we will be there with that rebellious Jonah and those pagan Ninevites in heaven. Let us look forward to that day because we did not deserve it and it is ours by grace. Amen.

¹ The Large Catechism, part III, paragraph 54

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 Pentecost 14 [21:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is the sermon for the thirteenth sunday after Pentecost. Today we had the privilege of hearing Rachael Symons confessing her faith. This podcast includes her examination, the sermon and the confirmation rite. Rachael’s confimation passage is Psalm 31:1-2. The sermon is based on Psalm 31:1-5. Here is the Written Sermon.

Noah Builds the ark

Where Will You Put Your Life?

Miss Rachael, let me start off with a question: For how long were you in catechism class with me? In all of those months, how many stories did I tell you? This morning, let me tell you one more very true and very important story. A long time ago there was a boy who had a problem. The problem was that his brothers were at war with the evil Philistines and they couldn’t seem to win. They couldn’t win because there was this giant of a man who would come out every day and say nasty words against them, the army and the Lord. And this was an even greater problem for this young man. This giant had no right. He had no right to make fun of the one, true God. So, let me ask you Rachael, where did David put his trust? Did he put his trust in his armor? Did he put it in being able to talk himself out of this situation? Did he put his life in the hands of the Lord. Do you remember what he said to Goliath? He said: ““You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45 NIV)

Oh, but that’s not the end of the story, is it? King Saul hated David. And so Saul tried again and again to kill him. And there was that time when David went into Saul’s camp at night. Everyone was asleep. And he could have killed Saul right there and taken the kingdom that belonged to him. And the guy that was with him, Abishai, wanted him to do just that. He said: ““Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won’t strike him twice.”” (1 Samuel 26:8 NIV) But, what did David say in response? In whose hands did he place his own life? He said: “As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 26:10–11 NIV)

And I could go on with this story, couldn’t I, Rachael? I could go on to talk about Absolom’s rebellion and all the trouble and sin and problems that David endured. But, I won’t. Because here in these words we have enough to answer the question. To whom did David go whenever he was in danger, in trouble and in turmoil? He went to the Lord.

That brings us to this psalm this morning. You have chosen Psalm 31, the opening verses at your confirmation passage. And you have chosen well. David starts out this psalm this way: “In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.” (Psalms 31:1 NIV)

David had horrible, wretched problems throughout his life. And he turned to the Lord for refuge, for strength and for hope. But why? How did he know that the Lord was the right person to rescue him? How did he know that the Lord would rescue him? In this verse he says: “deliver me in your righteousness.” (Psalms 31:1 NIV)

The reason for deliverance was the Lord’s righteousness. Now Rachael, whenever we read a big word in the bible, we set aside the time to talk about that word. And so, here, right now, we do the same. What is the Lord’s Righteousness?¹ The word David uses here means ‘perfection’ and ‘holiness.’ In these words David found a great treasure and a great comfort. He knew that the Lord would deliver him not because the Lord was perfect and holy, but because the Lord was the sort of God who didn’t just possess holiness—he also gave his holiness. The Lord didn’t just possess perfection, he gave perfection. He is saying and praying: “Lord, since you have taken away my sin and given to me your righteousness, then I know you will hear my prayer. Since you have taken away my sin and given to me your perfectness, deliver me from my sin and all my trouble.”

Now here we are, Rachael, knee-deep into this sermon. And you might be asking yourself, what does this have to do with me? If David had problems in his life—deep problems because of his sin and the sin of others, do you think you will? If David put his trust in the Lord to deliver him, where will you put your trust?

This is a very important point to focus on. After this confirmation, when you sin and it hurts, where will you find the solution to that sin? After this confirmation day, when others sin against you and it hurts, where will you find the solution to that pain? Where will you go when your friends hurt you? Where you go when you don’t know what lies beyond these high school years? Where will you go when your teachers or classmates insult you because you are a Christian? Where will you go when hurt people with your words and you have no one to blame but yourself?

Will find consolation in the number of your friends? Will you find consolation in the quality of your friends? Will you find consolation in the power of your volleyball serve? Or will you find consolation in the score on your last math test? NO. To all of these we say NO! No, on that day when your sin weighs you down with pain and guilt you will pray this prayer: “deliver me in your righteousness.” (Psalms 31:1 NIV) You will say: “O Lord, make your holiness my holiness. Make your perfection my perfection. Take away my sin and this pain.” And the Lord will hear you on that day and on every day you pray this way.

Now, Miss Rachael, there is one more topic to cover before we are done here. I don’t know if your realized it, but this psalm is a beautiful and a very fitting passage for this day in a different way than you might have thought. In verse five, David says: “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (Psalms 31:5 NIV) Miss Rachael, who else spoke those words? Our Savior, Jesus spoke those words on the cross right before he died. Who else spoke those words? Stephen spoke those words right before they killed him with stones.²

Notice Rachael, this song isn’t just a song of deliverance. It’s a song of death. It is the song that Jesus spoke as he died. It’s the song that Stephen sang when they killed him. And it has been the song that countless Christians have sung with their last breaths. And so, let me ask you Rachael, do you know when you will die? Now do you see what Confirmation all about? Catechism isn’t a pointless tradition. It’s not a fluffy, white cake or pretty dress. It’s not getting God out of the way so that you can move onto more important activities like parties and volleyball. It’s this enduring fact: Just as John Achzehn and Jack Brinker have gone to see the Lord face to face, you will too. And as the Lord calls you home, be it tonight or 50 years in the future, you can say: “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (Psalms 31:5 NIV) because he has delivered you with his very own righteousness, holiness and perfection. Jesus has taken your sins away and given to you his perfection.

So, my sister in Christ, continue. Continue to put your life, your very soul in his hands. For, your Lord who has given to you his righteousness will never drop your life or disappoint. Amen.

¹ ‏בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֥ פַלְּטֵֽנִי׃

² “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”” (Acts 7:59 NIV)

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 Rachael Symons--Confirmation [34:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is the sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. The sermon text is: Luke 12:32-40. The sermon theme is: Let God’s Pleasure Be Your Treasure. Here is the Written Sermon. Here is the epub file.

The Lord Shows Abraham the stars

Let God’s Pleasure Be Your Treasure

What do you do with a gift that you don’t get? What do you do if you get a gift—and you have no idea what the gift is or what to do with it? A couple of weeks after my confirmation I received a package in the mail form my aunt. I opened it. It was a bible. It was a massive bible. I was excited to get such a great gift, so I put it on my desk and opened it. I tried to read it. And it was like it was written in a different language. It definitely was not the NIV bible I had used in catechism class. I read the cover and it said “King James Version.” And so, I was in a difficult situation. It was a bible. You’re supposed to treasure that. But, I couldn’t understand it. What was I supposed to do? I put it on my shelf. I took it with me wherever I moved. And still today, I know Latin, Greek and Hebrew. But I don’t understand many of the words in this book.

Has the same happened to you? Have you ever received a gift and you had no idea what to do with it? In these opening verses Jesus gives his disciples an amazing gift: ““Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32 NIV)

Jesus tells them that their Father has given to them the kingdom. What an amazing gift! They have the kingdom. But, as we move into these words, we quickly realize that they had no idea what that gift meant for them.

So, before we go any further, let’s set aside some time to speak about this. For Our Father has not just given his kingdom to his disciples. He has given the kingdom to us as well. So, we ask two questions. First, what is the Kingdom of God? Luther’s words are the best: “God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, into the World to redeem and deliver us from the devil’s power.”¹ So, notice what Luther points out. Canada is not God’s kingdom. The U.S. is not God’s kingdom. Mexico is not God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is not borders and boundaries. God’s kingdom is Jesus delivering us from the Devils power. That is God’s kingdom.

So, what is God’s kingdom? It’s Jesus rescuing us from the Devil. The second question is just as important to ask. How does God’s kingdom come to us? Luther’s answer is wonderful. He says that God’s kingdom comes to us “(a) here in time through the Word and faith [Matthew 13]; and (b) in eternity forever through revelation [Luke 19:11; 1 Peter 1:4-5].”² This little trip into Luther’s Large Catechism is a very important lesson to learn. We have God’s kingdom—all of it. We have it every time we open our bibles. We have it every time we remember how God washed away our sins in baptism and put his name on us. We have it every time we come forward to the Lord’s Table. There we receive the forgiveness of sins. There we have a little preview of the endless perfect party in heaven.

So, learn these two questions: “what is God’s kingdom?” and “How does God’s kingdom come to us?” God’s kingdom is Jesus delivering us from the Devil. God’s kingdom come to us now in word and faith and forever in heaven. Learn them, for Jesus applies this truth in a wondrous way in these words which follow: “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:33–34 NIV)

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be. This about that. Wherever you place your time, your effort, your strength, there is where your heart will be. And when your treasure is good, you will have pleasure. But when it fails, so also does your heart. So, what does this look like? How many of you know people who are Steeler’s fans. There is where they place their time, their energy, their hope. And so, when the Steelers are doing great, they are too. But, when they lose, they you don’t want to be around those fans. They put all that time, energy and commitment into the Steelers. And they lost. And we could say the same for the Pirates and the penguins.

But dear Christians, don’t just look out there, look in here. Look into your hearts and ask yourself where your treasure is. Where do you put your time, your energy, your commitment, your strength? Is it in front of a TV? Is it in front of a computer? Is it in taking care of your children? Is it in taking care of your parents? Is it in saving money? Is it in spending money? Where is your treasure? For, where your treasure is, there your heart will be. And when the moth comes and rust destroys, if that is your treasure, if that is your kingdom, then all you will have is misery.

Now, if you want to see what this should look like, then go to Abraham. If you want to see what it looks like to put your time and energy where it belongs, then listen to the words from our second lesson: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:8–10 NIV)

Abraham was loaded. He had more gold and silver than you can imagine. He could have built a mansion. He could have built several mansions. But he didn’t. He lived in a tent—as did Isaac and Jacob. Why? How can earthly mansions compare to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God? Abrahams knew that the Father had given to him the kingdom that would last forever. What reason then did he have to put his time, energy, hope and trust in the people, places and things here which moth and rust will destroy?

In all of this we see our sin. We are like a child playing with a toy car—all the while our Father has given to us a real car. So, what is our Father’s solution to this problem? Since the kingdom he has given to us is far from our minds and hearts, what does he do? He brings his kingdom to us. Just think about what happens in the Lord’s Supper. Our sinful nature says: “don’t think about your sin. Don’t think about your Savior, Jesus.” And in the Lord’s Supper, our Father lifts our eyes to Jesus. And he says “here is Jesus. Here is his body. Here is his blood. Eat, drink, for your sins are great and this forgiveness is real.” And then what does he do? After we have eaten and drunk forgiveness, he lifts our eyes even farther. He says “look at these people gathered around this rail. Look at these, your brothers and sisters in faith, and then picture Abraham. Imagine eating with him. Imagine talking to him.” Our Father lifts our eyes even farther. He says “now look at who is at the head of the table, Jesus, your brother, your Savior, your servant and your King.”

My brothers and sisters, what earthly treasure can compare to that? What child, what adult, what amount of money can buy that for you? Our Father lifts our eyes above. He gives us his Son, to take away our sins. He reminds us of the heavenly banquet we will have with Abraham and Jesus. And he does even more. Listen to what he says in the words which follow: ““Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them” (Luke 12:35–38 NIV)

Look at what Jesus is saying here. When you arrive in that heavenly kingdom, God, the Father will serve you. The creator of the universe will kneel down and wash your feet. He will ask you what wine you want to drink. He will ask you what you want to drink. And he will serve you.

And so, my brothers and sisters, since all of this is true, how should you behave now? Let God’s pleasure be your treasure. Your Father is ever-so-pleased to give you the kingdom. And that kingdom comes to you through God’s word. So then, let that be your treasure. Let God’s word be in your heart. Study it with your family. Study it with your Pastor in class. Let that be your treasure. For there you hear God’s promise that your sins are forgiven. And there you see these amazing pictures of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.

¹ Luther’s Large Catechism, Lord’s Prayer, para. 51

² Luther’s Large Catechism, Lord’s Prayer, para. 53

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