Avoiding the ‘Let’s Buy More Stuff’ Trap”
First in a series of stewardship messages
Malachi 3:10, 11; Luke 18:18-27
Park Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Oakland, Calif.
www.pbpc.org Dr. George Gilchrist, Interim/Transitional Pastor
11/6/11
The Bible does not sidestep the realities of money, sex and power
One of the books in my collection is Richard Foster’s “Money, Sex and Power.”
This classic book addresses how to effectively manage these three major realities of life –
money, sex and power.
What does Foster’s title mean? The middle word – sex - refers to the way God
made us male and female in His image and how we may relate to the opposite sex.
The third word of the title, power, is also an everyday reality. Sunday’s worship
screen showed a photo of Nicholas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel, David Brown and President
O’Bama meeting in the luxurious resort at Cannes, France where they attempted to resolve
the Euro crisis and the default of Greece on its debt. Regarding power, Thursday’s news
indicated that Greek Prime Minister Papandreou survived well in a vote of confidence and it
seems that government can continue – he is still in power.
1 Avoiding the ‘Let’s Buy More Stuff’ Trap”
(However, when I edited this sermon on Thursday, Oct. 10, Papandreou had
resigned and Lucas Papademos is the new Prime Minister).
Power is a reality in relationships. Whenever we enter into a relationship and
decide to talk or not talk to another person, it’s about a balance of power. If we perceive
them as being more powerful, we may go elsewhere. Or if we think that they have less
power or if we consider them as unimportant, we may ignore them.
The “power question” certainly drifts into the “money question.” The “Occupy…”
movements – “Occupy Wall Street,” “Occupy Oakland” and the phrase “99% and the 1%”
have been dominant features in the news. There was a similar movement in London last
week where protesters attempted to close down St. Paul’s Cathedral to help London be
more sensitive to the powerless and poor folks of that city.
Jesus did not avoid the “money question.”
The subject of “money” often causes some folks to minimize Scriptures by
inaccurately saying, “Oh, well, the Bible is not important – it only talks about spiritual
things – but not ‘real issues.’” Some seek to wrongly assert that the Bible does not address
anything as “crass or dirty or unspiritual” as “money.”
However, Biblical research demonstrates the opposite. In the first three gospels –
Matthew, Mark, and Luke -- one of every seven of Jesus’ parables addresses the “money
question.” Similarly, the New Testament has 500 verses on spiritual topics like prayer, and
another 500 on faith but 2,000 verses on money and possessions!
There was a sad rich man! (Luke 18:18-25)
The “money question” is illustrated by a rich young ruler, a “high roller,” who came
to Jesus asking, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" The man asserted that he had
kept all the commandments since his youth -- an impressive moral pedigree!
Here’s Jesus’ response…
"You lack one thing…go and sell all you possess -- your lands,
possession, stocks and investments -- and give the proceeds to
the poor and charitable organizations, then come and follow Me."
But, when the young man heard these words, his face fell. He was
sad and disappointed because he was clearly a "high roller."
Jesus recognized the man's distress and said,
"Here's the truth…It’s very difficult for a rich person to enter the
kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a giant camel to squeeze
through the eye of a surgeon’s needle, than for a person of wealth
to desire to enter the Kingdom of God."
2 Avoiding the ‘Let’s Buy More Stuff’ Trap”
Jesus spoke further about riches when He said, "It is harder for a
rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle" (vs. 25).
Can a “rich” person “make room for God?”
Luke’s account of the rich man uses the phrase, “eye of a needle.” In the other two
Gospels – Matthew and Mark, “eye of a needle,” refers simply to a “darning needle.” But,
because Luke was a medical doctor, he used the specialized Greek word for a surgeon’s
needle.
This passage is “tricky” because we may write it off saying, “I am the 99% not the
1% who makes a million or billion dollars a year – I’m not rich.” But, when we compare
ourselves to the rest of the world, every one of us is very rich.
But, how do we define…"rich?" As a way of understanding “rich,” I invite you to look
at these money and stewardship questions in the Sunday bulletin.
1. (True or False) We are exposed to at least 1500 commercial messages everyday.
2. Jesus said, "It's harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom than for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle." How do you define "rich?"
3. (True or false) "Miser" and "miserable" are related words.
4. (True or false) Profound and positive changes occur when we give away our time,
money or talent.
Note the answers to these “money” questions.
1. True - 1500 commercial messages everyday or with 93 commercial messages an
hour.
2. “Rich” – Per capita income in Luxembourg is $88,000; Norway, $83,000; USA
$48,000; France $32,000; Albania, $7000; Zimbabwe; $200 per year
3. Yes, "Miser" and "miserable" are related words.
4. True - positive changes occur when we give away our time, money or talent.
“Rich” and the TV Series – “Dallas”
In 1994, Margie and I began leading short-term mission teams with Alongside
Ministries International, which is supported by your offerings at PBPC, to the former
Eastern Bloc country of Albania. It had been set free from the 45-year lock-down of
Communism for only two years. Because no one could enter or leave the country during
Communism, the Albanian people found us -- Americans -- to be quite a novelty!
During the Communist lock-down, the dictator told everyone they were the richest,
most educated and talented people on earth. They had no way to think otherwise since
Albanians were forbidden to leave the country, foreigners could not enter and foreign
media was prohibited. They were sealed off from the outside world.
3 Avoiding the ‘Let’s Buy More Stuff’ Trap”
Then, when the borders opened, they were shocked to see the rest of the world
and realize they were one of the world’s poorest nations.
In our first summer in l994, we assisted the infant Albanian church as they and we
went home-to-home to give out Bibles, which was forbidden during Communism. Imagine my
embarrassment when our team (Two Albanians and myself, an American) came to an
apartment complex in Korçë, the country's third largest city. As they opened the door, we
could see that they had been watching the TV series, "Dallas." Because I was an American,
I realized that I was perceived as being “like the people” in Dallas - very rich. Hardly!
We understand better that we are, indeed, “rich” with the Advent Conspiracy that
asserts that we, Americans, spent $400 billion on Christmas last year, while a “mere” $20
billion could provide fresh water in a majority of African countries.
Personal freedom, removal of “God barriers” in “God owns, I manage…” life-style
(1) The “10-80-10” Plan (Live on 80%, save 10%, tithe 10%)
Margie and I were introduced to the “10-80-10” Plan at the beginning of our
marriage. It means that one lives on 80% of his/her income, saves 10% and gives 10% to
the Lord as a tithe.
God’s word says,
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my
house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open
the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room
enough for it" (Malachi 3:10).
(2) When we tithe -- give 10% back to the Lord -- we put boundaries on the
possibility of having a "love affair" with our money and possessions and crowding God out of
our life. The act of giving 10% back to Him as soon as I get my paycheck helps me to be
less emotionally involved with "things." Tithing serves as a spiritual discipline that helps
me to see the Lord better.
(3) The discipline of giving a tithe to the work of Christ helps one find the joy and
satisfaction of being partners with others in the local church (Even PBPC) in sharing the
Good News here and around the world.
4 Avoiding the ‘Let’s Buy More Stuff’ Trap”