Stewardship
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Proper 21, Year C "As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life" (1 Tim. 6:17-19). "Uncertainty" is not a word we like, especially when it comes to the future; it reminds us of our limitations in knowledge and in resources, the constraints of human life. This is not welcome knowledge to us, as modern people are tempted to live in denial of their limitations. The Apostle who addresses us in the second reading attaches this word "uncertainty" to "riches" or "wealth", coming rather directly to the point: riches are by nature uncertain. The crucial word play here is between "uncertain riches" and the God who "richly provides us with everything". In other words, God is the source of what we truly need, and he is generous in giving. God is trustworthy, in a way that uncertain wealth can never be. Note here that the Apostle, almost alone among the writers of the New Testament, actually has a positive view of wealth. The more characteristic view in the New Testament is to oppose the possession of wealth and righteousness, at best incommensurable, and at worst irreconcilable. But here, in the First Letter to Timothy, the wealthy can be "rich in good works", and by generous sharing of their resources can provide for themselves a different sort of treasure for the future. It may be a "minority report", compared to the majority report, and cold comfort to those who wish to hold on to their wealth, but here it is: a hopeful word about wealth. The Apostle is not saying that God can be bribed or bought. He is saying that wealth is a means that can be used in the life of discipleship; riches can build a bridge between this life and the life to come. What is by nature uncertain, can be used to lay hold of a future that is certain. At this point, some of you may be wondering whether Father John, in spite of the dire Biblical warnings against it, has stooped to doctoring the text of the New Testament to suit his own purposes. A few of you may want to look this up for yourselves to see if it’s really in your Bibles! I don’t blame you, because our reading is so apropos and to the point. We are thinking hard, and working hard, on our Capital Campaign, "From Generation to Generation", about the needs of Christ Church in the future; and soon we will be thinking hard and working hard on our Annual Fund to provide for our needs in the coming year, which are substantial. "From Generation to Generation" and our Annual Fund are about our increasing ministry in West Saint Tammany Parish, about proclaiming the Gospel, welcoming the People, forming them in the Faith, and going out in mission to the world. The Apostle is opening a door for us to see our giving of treasure in terms of discipleship, rather than of "fundraising"; in terms of a spiritual opportunity rather than a regrettable necessity. There is a bridge to be built here, from an uncertain present to a certain future; to what the Apostle calls "the life that really is life". A little bit more about uncertainty, if you’ll indulge. After all, the intrinsic uncertainty of wealth, and the whole of our lives, is very much in our minds after the events of September 11th. The attacks seemed to have been focused at the points they were in order to cause uncertainty, and to sow doubt among people about the source of their prosperity. In a quite profound way, unintended by the attackers, many people as a consequence have re-discovered the Source of all things to be God, who can be trusted and about whom there is no uncertainty. Jesus himself experienced uncertainty as he went forward; remember the story of the agonizing night in Gethsemane. It’s also the case that we will experience the same sort of uncertainty, as we go forward in this Capital Campaign and in our national life. But Jesus, in spite of uncertainty, put his trust in God; and our Scriptural tradition suggests that we too can trust God in all things, and move forward without fear in doing the work that God is calling us to. There are lessons to be learned here: lessons about the nature of giving, and the times in which we need to give. It is exactly in the face of uncertainty that we need to be generous, rich in good works and ready to share, so that we too can share in the life of God. The Rev’d John Bauerschmidt is Rector of Christ Church, Covington. |
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