August's Sermons

Church Period: Pentecost 25th Sunday After
Sermon Title: Our Investment Opportunities
Sermon Date: November 15, 1992
Rev. August Hauptman
Sermon Text: Luke 19:11-27

Dear Christian friends:

I would guess that most of us have had some experience in investing money so that it may earn benefits for us. Many may put their money in a pass book savings account at the bank or saving and loan, or it might be a certificate of deposit. Others may put their money in a mutual fund or invest it in stocks and bonds. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have some money to invest are very alert to search out the best opportunities, those that return the highest interest with the least amount of risk.

In Jesus' day people also invested money to earn a profit. In our text, which is the Gospel Lesson for this Sunday, Jesus uses this ancient, common business practice as the basis for a parable to inspire his people to serve him more diligently. Jesus points out to us

Our Investment Opportunities

We have these tremendous opportunities to invest because Jesus is our King, and we are his willing servants. In the parable Jesus tells about "a man of noble birth who went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return."

He is, of course, speaking about himself here. Jesus is the man of noble birth. He is the very Son of God who in time became the Son of Man. This God-Man, Jesus Christ "went to a distant country to have himself appointed king where he was crowned Lord of all!"

This refers to Jesus' suffering and death upon the cross; to his resurrection from the dead and to his glorious ascension into heaven forty days later. It is sad and ironic that although Jesus went to these extremes to be the Savior-King men still rejected him.

In the parable Jesus says that the subjects hated the king and sent a delegation to say, "We don't want this man to be our king." (verse 14) But this didn't change anything. He was made king, however, Jesus says in the parable with these words Jesus is in love warning the Jews who had rejected him and who would later participate in his crucifixion He is Lord and King, and those who reject him do so at their own eternal peril.

It is also a warning to all who would reject Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Peter warns, "They deny the sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift destruction on themselves." (2 Peter 2:1) And in the parable Jesus has the king say these most terrible words: "But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them - bring them here and kill them in front of me." (verse 27)

Although it is mankind's natural inclination to be an enemy of the Savior-King, yet he is able to overcome our enmity. By grace Jesus makes us his servants. Those who trust him as King are his servants.

In the parable the king instructs ten of his servants to work for him while he is away in the country. (verse 13) So apparently some of his subjects who hated him were overcome by his grace and became his obedient and willing servants.

By God's grace, we, too, have been led to faith and trust in Jesus Christ. He is our precious Savior and King. We whole heartedly agree with St. Paul, "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Corinthians 5:15)

As servants of the King Jesus Christ we have eternal life. Paul says, "But now that you have been free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:22-23)

He gives us all we need to take care of his business. In our parable the king calls his servants to him, gives each one a mina, about $100,000 in today's money, and says to them, "Put this money to work until I come back. (verse 13) That's a lot of capital, even in our day.

What is the capital that he has given to us? He's not talking about money basically but about, the Word and the Sacraments. That's the real capital. St. Paul says, "We are stewards of the mysteries of God." (1 Corinthians 4:1)

And Peter says, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Jesus himself said to his disciples just before he ascended into heaven, just before he went to the distant country: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

As servants of the great King of heaven and earth we really are somebody and we have the greatest investment duties and opportunities! Certainly this ought to motivate us and empower us to be and do just that! Even so, we still are often reluctant to take advantage of these splendid investment opportunities, so Jesus gives us even further motivation.

He reminds us that we must give account of our stewardship when he returns from the far country. Faithful servants will receive unmerited blessings from their King. These faithful servants use God's gifts to earn profits for God.

When the king returned from the far country, He sent for his servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. The first came and said, "Sir, your mina has earned ten more .... The second came and said, Sir, your mina has earned five more." Notice! The servants did not say to the king: "I have earned ten more; I have earned five more." They said, "Your mina has earned ten more; your mina has earned five more." The money itself has the power to earn more money. Ben Franklin was so right when he said: "A penny saved is a penny earned."

So it will be with us if we are faithful in administering the Word and the Sacraments. Jesus had given us his word to proclaim, to preach, teach and tell and the Sacraments to administer.

And he promises that his Word is powerful and will not fail to do what he wants it to do. He says, "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

We never speak God's Word in vain. It earns the real, lasting profits! In this connection we need to remember that God's Word is a two edged sword: to those who believe it is a message of life and salvation; to those who do not believe it is a message of death and damnation!

Sometimes the results are positive, sadly often they are minus. But both are in God's plan. So get out the Word! Take advantage of your investment opportunities. Don't mind the results; that's the King's business!

In the parable one servants mina earned ten more, but the other servants mina earned only five. The king rewarded both! Don't get hooked on the numbers game, like so many churches do today! Just be faithful in using your investment opportunities. Leave the numbers to God. Then God will bless you beyond what you can imagine or deserve.

In the parable the king rewarded the faithful servants, so Jesus when he returns on the Day of Judgment will graciously reward all his faithful servants beyond our wildest dreams!

However, fearful servants, who are really unbelieving will lose all blessings. (verses 20-24) This fearful wicked servant was not condemned because of the lack of profit, but because he did not invest the mina at all! He laid it away in "a piece of cloth!"

Each one of us today needs to ask: "What kind of servant am I?" We've already confessed that in the confession haven't we? And we have already been absolved. May it renew us to be more faithful in the days ahead.

Amen.