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Fruitful Use of Treasures

Pastor Jeremy Schultz
October 23, 2011

Today we conclude our sermon series entitle Bearing Fruit for Jesus under the theme Fruitful Use of Treasures. Listen again to these words from Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Suppose that you were given a choice between option A or option B. Choosing option [A] means that you would receive one dollar each week for 52 years! Choosing option [B] however means that you would receive one penny doubled for 52 weeks! The choice is yours. Which would you choose? This illustrates how people today are unsure, confused and unclear about the choices they make until they have by a process of addition or multiplication calculated the potential return on their investment. Option “A” sounds appealing, but adding the figures only nets you $2,704. Now for option “B”, take out your calculators and you will soon realize that the power of multiplication would make you billionaires in less than 52 weeks! The difference is between addition and multiplication. And making fruitful use of treasures will multiply ministry in much the same way. It supports the work of God's Kingdom and reaps a fruitful harvest!

There's a great story in our OT lesson today about King David and the children of Israel doing just that. In 1st Chronicles we find David making preparations for his son, Solomon, to build the Temple once he's king. So out of the King's personal treasury comes 110 tons of gold, plus 260 tons of silver to overlay the walls of the Temple. And following His lead, the children of Israel respond joyously and freely. They give an additional 180 tons of gold and 375 tons of silver, plus bronze and iron and precious stones for the house of God. And there is great rejoicing. The people are so encouraged by what they see their king do and are so happy that they too give with joyous and willing hearts! Next, David blesses the entire assembly and leads the people in prayers saying, “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand” (1 Chronicles 29:14). That's the spirit of putting first things first. That's what it means to seek first the kingdom of God and make fruitful use of treasures!

I only wish that same spirit was ALWAYS in the heart of God's people! And I wish that the church today and all of you would ALWAYS follow their lead because this is a moment in time where the children of Israel get it right! Just imagine if we would see the connection between what we are doing with our gifts and what God is doing with our gifts! Imagine if we prayed about these things and prepared those gifts, spiritually and prayerfully, in advance before even coming to church! Imagine if there was applause when the ushers finally brought forward the plates! Imagine if there were shouts of Hallelujah and high fives exchanged! Imagine if people were so enthused that they said, “Amen” and others clapped! Can you imagine? I can – especially when I read about the joy of the Israelites here in 1 Chronicles 29. It seems that they were putting first things first. Seeking first His kingdom and righteousness and knowing that all these other things...God will take care of and give you as well.

There is much evidence that we are a first things first kind of church! Three years ago we voted overwhelmingly to add a Vicar to our church staff. This financial and spiritual investment means that more people hear the Gospel in this place and it means that future pastors are groomed right here. Oh, but there's more! At the start of this school year, our congregation voted to add a ½ time teacher to the school. We just started giving certificates for the first portion of their education at St. Paul Lutheran School for all the newly baptized. This is first things first kind of church - a church that gets involved in the community, not to promote ourselves, but Jesus Christ whom we serve. This is a church that seeks first God's kingdom and righteousness. But perhaps not always.

Too often, Christians here can get confused and unclear about addition versus multiplication when it comes to investing in the kingdom of God. In our confusion, some of us individually choose to give little or nothing in proportion to what we have received. What percentage of your income is an investment in the kingdom of God? How much of your treasures do you contribute to the Lord's work? Are you growing in your giving? Are you more fruitful this year than you were last year? Are you committed to being more fruitful next year? First things first. Is Jesus represented as first in your giving of treasures?

Some evening this week, retrieve your old checkbook registers and read through the entries. Or maybe it's your old credit card statements that chronicle your spending habits and preferences. Whichever you choose, you may find it interesting, and you may find it startling, to discover just how the money you've earned has been spent.

The entries will read like a family journal. They record major events, vacations, visits to the mall, travel, how much you eat out, how you dress and even how you furnish your home. Sadly, they also record how much you may waste. Your contributions given to the work of the Lord, then, compared with the expenditures for the things of life offer some clues. If nothing or little has gone to support the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, but large sums were spent for personal gratification, you will want to examine your values related to your treasures. Here is the thing. If money is your treasure, your heart will follow. But if God is your treasure, then your money is a tool that He uses to bear fruit.

Remember Jesus who said, “I am the Vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in Him he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15). Christ Jesus has done everything for you to be and remain in Him! In fact, He sought you first! In true love, He called you by name in baptism and grafted you in as a branch of the Vine. He gives you nourishment and sustenance through His Word and Sacraments. He gives you your family and your church and the ability to pray to Him and talk things over. He forgives your sins by the power of His blood shed on the cross and promises that on the last day, you will rise and be with Him forever!

Christ chose first things first and He gathered you to Himself. As we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness, God enables us as branches of the Vine, to bear much fruit. God grant that you be faithful and fruitful stewards...bearing much fruit for Jesus. Amen.