We should study scripture carefully, reading from verse one of a Book through
the last verse of the Book. If you don't read it all the way through, you may make
a gigantic mistake in your understanding of the subject. That opens the door to
a major interpretation of God's Word. Let's take a look at an example of scripture
that was presented to me as the reason this person was persuading Christians
to follow his teaching.
First, let us look at The Parable of the Talents, Matt. 25:14-30, and then go to
Matt. 19:16-22. If you don't read both scriptures, you will fail to understand the
true meaning and teaching of these passages. You need to read Matt 21:12-13 to
get the final meaning of all three.
In reading Matt. 25:14-30, Jesus is using money to get the listeners' attention,
and, in today's world, nothing else has such a profound effect. Beginning with verse
14, we proceed. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country,
who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave
five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own
ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five
talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he
who had received two gained two more also.
But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's
money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts
with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents,
saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look I have gained five more talents
besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy
of your lord.'
He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me
two talents, look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' His lord said
to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to
be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have
not scattered seed. And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground.
Look, there you have what is yours.'
But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that
I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you
ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have
received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him
who has ten talents.'
For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but
from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the
unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth.' This parable is used by Christians to illustrate that our free market system
is a solid basis for success. We'll look at the other two passages of scripture, and
then sort out the teaching of Jesus. There is more here than meets the eye.
Matt. 19:16-22: Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what
good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, "Why do you
call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into
life keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "You
shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not
bear false witness, honor your father and your mother, and you shall love your
neighbor as yourself."
The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What
do I still lack? Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have
and give to the poor , and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had
great possessions.
First we read about making profits and a lord (rich man). Now we read about
another rich man. In the first, we saw that profit was the goal. In the second, profit
was not the goal. Now we go to Matt. 21:12-13. "Then Jesus went into the temple
of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned
the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He
said to them, "It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have
made it a den of thieves."
Let's go back to the first Parable. The rich man places three servants in the
possession of some of his money. Two either barter or invest the money while
the third simply preserves the initial amount. The rich man rewards the two who
brought financial profits to him. The third man received no reward and was
banished. This collection of scripture has always been used to teach Christians
about profit in money and laziness as a main reason for lack of profit. You need
to understand you missed something in these scripture verses if the above
conclusion is your understanding and belief.
Look carefully at Matt. 25:24 through 27. Consider the character and VERY
UNCHRISTIAN principals of the rich man. The servant says he reaps where he
has not sown and gathers where he has not scattered seed. The rich man admits
that is true, and says the servant should at least have gone to the bankers so
his money earned interest. The rich man calls the servant wicked and lazy.
The servant did not steal any money, so the term wicked seems odd. If you
examine what Jesus is actually talking about, you will see it is not money, but
spiritual gifts. Each of us has at least one spiritual gift. You don't believe we
are talking about spiritual gifts because that cancels out money and profit. Take
another look at the rich man's character. He makes money by deception, stealing
and bankers' interest. Jesus would NEVER support that rich man nor the way
he lived his life. The lesson here is that if you don't use your spiritual gifts for
profit to God, you are wicked and lazy. If you don't know about the spiritual gifts
I'm talking about, go to I Cor. 12:1-14. Jesus would NEVER direct anyone to
steal, deceive or make obscene interest profits. The nice part about this Parable
is that it permits ignorant Christians to make money while sinning.
If you're still with me, we see Jesus telling a rich young man what is necessary
to be "perfect". He is saying complete belief is not gaining or having possessions
beyond bare necessity, and requires following Jesus and the Disciples in teaching
God's Word. The question here is, which is most important to you, having a lot of
money or spreading the Gospel?
Now for the coup d'e tat. We go to the third section of scripture in this sermon.,
Matt. 21:12 and 13. Jesus saw the money changers (businessmen) in the temple
making a nifty profit selling doves, and perhaps other sacrifice items, to worshipers
who came to observe church observances. They were using the temple as a store,
or "big box" location to do commercial business. This is a rare instance when Jesus
actually got mad and violent.
Jesus saw much that was religiously or otherwise bad, but it was the mixing of
money and religion that upset him more than anything else. That should be a lesson
for us. The money we can honestly accrue is not for people who are "good" at
making lots of money. We are supposed to use the money wisely, and that includes
helping the poor, widows and children. Not everyone is born rich and privileged.
Being lazy is not a major factor for many, many poor people. Redistribution of
wealth is not socialism.
One politician ignores the story of the Good Samaritan. Another wants to put
children of poor families to work as school janitors. Yet another wants to abolish
government agencies vital to all citizens, and another wants to change the
Constitution to make courts--one third of the division of power-- subject to the
whim of Congress. The previous Administration redistributed the wealth by
giving the rich a tax cut that now equals $3,400,000 per person. Now, that's
redistributing the wealth.
When a politician invokes his/her beliefs in faith while talking politics, he/she
has crossed God's line. Jesus explained it for us very well, not in isolated
scriptures the politicians use, but in the chapters and verse in this sermon.
You and I will be judged by how we "use" scripture and our decisions. There
is no excuse.
Rev. Walbear
