Sunday, September 18th, 2016 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine: “Trusting in Christ, Not Money” (Luke 16:1-15)
Location: Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine: 12500 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA 92618
Directions: Exit Sand Canyon from the 405 or 5, head East towards the hills, cross Irvine Blvd., turn right on Saint’s Way (this will put you on the campus of Crean Lutheran High School…we worship in the event center/gym)
Divine Service: 930 am
Bible Study and Sunday School: 11 am
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
At our congregation we give offerings every Sunday. Whenever we’ve asked for money beyond the regular offerings, it has been to support missions (like the Wittenberg Project and Southern California Campus Ministry Initiative) and important social service agencies that help people in dire need (e.g. The Teen Project). Other than that, we don’t ask for money. I’m proud to be able to say that.
Having said that, we need to also proclaim and teach what the Word of God says about the Christian’s relationship to money. It is part of our sanctification in Christ. It is part of our witness to the world. It is part of our living in our baptism.
Tomorrow’s gospel includes this fascinating teaching of the Lord Jesus: “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.” (Luke 16:8b) For the longest time, I thought that the Lord was speaking a word of chastisement towards Christians. No. Instead, he is commending Christians who don’t play the deceitful games of the unrighteous. Rather, Christians are to be innocent when it comes to the ways of the world. Still — in tomorrow’s gospel — the Lord IS commending the concept of prudence.
Prudence is “cleverness and skill deployed in self-preservation (Arthur Just in his Luke Commentary, 616).” In getting back to the subject of money: the Christian is to be prudent. Preserve oneself in your holy baptism. Do not love money, love the Lord. You can’t serve two masters. Prudence runs to Jesus. It confesses our misuse of money, our over-reliance upon it, and our sinful love of it. Prudence leads us to take stock of what is really most important and it isn’t money. Rather, it is the grace of God in Christ!
The Lord Jesus has come to save us so that we would know the Only Master from sin, death, and the power of the evil one. The Lord Jesus came to make us rich in the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Through His blood shed for us and through His victorious resurrection for us, our God is the Lord, not money. Now we are free to use money as it was intended to be used: to glorify God and to help our neighbor (like our spouse, our children, our fellow church members, family and friends in need; and those who especially suffer in the world). In Christ, our use of money becomes an extension of our confession: we serve the Lord and belong to Him and nothing else.
I hope to see you in God’s house tomorrow morning where we will receive the Lord directly through the Holy Sacrament of His body and blood. This is our spiritual nourishment.
If you’re a member of the congregation, please stay an extra half-hour or so and attend our quarterly voter’s assembly meeting. I’m excited to announce that we are presenting a full-slate of officers for our parish council. You will receive an update on our building search, our financial health, and on the Word and Sacrament ministry. It’s a good time to learn about what is going on with your congregation, how you can pray for her, and how you might serve.
In Jesus’ Love,
Pastor Espinosa