In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

     Is there any doubt that the one topic that still angers, upsets, infuriates members of churches most, is money? I've said before, we are blessed here at Saint Luke's because our members strive to be faithful and committed in their giving, which means we're not continually having to bang the drum for more money, more money, more money. Oh, we have our capital stewardship appeals, and at times, we do need to raise awareness when there is a need or a shortfall. But there's a difference when there's a real pressing need-whether it's to meet the budget, or build a new building, as opposed to never having enough to pay the bills just to keep the doors of the church open. That-wears on you-on you and me-when a church has to keep begging for money, just to survive. That gets tiring real fast, and yet, that's the MO for lots of churches these day-especially smaller churches. Surely, we all realize how difficult it is to hear that week in and week out, never being able to stabilize financially. We understand how members conflict, when there are never enough dollars to go around-not unlike conflict in households, when money is short and tempers flare. But I'm not really talking about members who get upset, angry and irritated because the pastor IS always talking about money. I'm talking about Christians who are offended, if the church or the pastor EVER talks about money. My guess is most of us grew up around folks-family members, parents or grandparents, aunts or uncles, who railed against the church for talking about money once a year in a stewardship program! Money was something you didn't talk about in polite company, and money was certainly not something you talked about outside home or family, except in business settings, so it was also assumed, in many situations and communities, that you shouldn't talk about money in church. After all, money was termed, "filthy lucre"-dirty riches, a necessary evil in the world, that had little place in the Church. So, it was also just assumed that the funds that were needed, would simply show up. If a building needed to be built, a benefactor would be found, or a particular family would donate the wood and supplies. If the parsonage needed work, members showed up and did the work. We went through a time in the church when stewardship and money were not common topics in the church-and to bring them up, was considered crass and inappropriate. The problem was it became increasingly difficult to have churches be strong and viable financially, without actually broaching the subject, talking about monetary needs, setting goals and budgets, and yes, asking folks to grow in their stewardship. We no longer live in a world where you all have lumber laying around in your barn, or trees on your forty acres that can be harvested to build the new church building. Nor do most of us have the skills to come over and have an old-time barn-raising to get the education wing out of the ground. It takes money, to pay the electrical bill, and have the church cleaned, and build a church building today. And to raise the funds needed, you have to talk about money. That's the fact of it, and I've learned not to be ashamed, or embarrassed to discuss monetary issues in church-because the truth is, when we talk about money openly, it helps us to grow as stewards, and ultimately, the church is stronger and grows, when we are financially stable. Which brings us back to the fact that so many folks are still offended when we talk about money in church. Given the realities of our day, given the fact that it takes money to keep the doors of the church open, given that it requires a lot of money to actually build a fellowship hall and classrooms-one wonders why anyone would be offended by talking about money in church?! Especially considering that Jesus talked about money almost more than any other topic-other than maybe the kingdom of God. If I ask you, who said "Show me the money?" You would think of Cuba Gooding Junior in "Jerry Maguire", but did you know Jesus was the first one to say it, believe it or not. Look it up in Matthew 22:19. Jesus says, "show me the money.!" Jesus talked about money, he taught about money-he challenged people to think about money, as he does in our gospel lesson for today. Which leads us to ask why it is that Jesus talks about money, but we're not supposed to? The reason Christians are often averse to talking about money, is because it's not about money, it's about God, and their relationship to God.

     Jesus says as much, in the story he tells about the man who builds bigger and bigger barns-in response to a request to divide a family inheritance. You heard the story, so I won't tell it again, but the bottom line is, "so it is with those who store up treasures for themselves, but are not rich toward God." In other words, God is to be first in our lives-we are to be rich toward God, meaning we place God and His kingdom above everything else in our lives, rather than giving ourselves, and our possessions and our wants and desires, primary place. St. Cyril of Alexandria, who lived in the fourth and fifth century, likened greed and covetousness and desire for wealth, with idolatry-as "a pitfall of the devil and hateful to God-being suitable only for those who do not know God." Why would Cyril say that? Because St. Paul says that in Colossians, in our second reading, where Paul writes, "put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry." Because greed, is wanting something so badly, that you put it first in your life, even before God. And that, is idolatry-putting anyone and anything before God. Which brings us back to why people are offended by talk of money in church-because what they're really responding to-is not a simple request for money-but the challenge to their Lordship over their own lives! Talking about money in church, strikes at the heart of who is in charge-me, or God! Now stick with me on this-because you have to give it some thought. If I am lord of my life, in charge of my money and accounts, then I may indeed be offended, if someone challenges my lordship-and asks me to do something different, with my possessions. If God is Lord of my life, not only do I willingly dedicate all that I have and all that I am, to Almighty God, and His purposes, but I do not begrudge it when He asks me for it, I do not resent having to give it to Him. If all that I have already belongs to God, who is my creator, and the creator of all that exists, then what right do I have to think that I possess anything?! And by what right do I think that I should be able to keep what I have, or have more, or be able to use it all for myself? Someday, God will say to each of us, "tonight, your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" The point being, what I have, and what I've earned, and what I've been given, comes to me from God, and is to be used in His service. Being greedy for more, coveting what my neighbor has-living my life with the sole aim of amassing a greater and greater abundance of possessions, makes that my purpose and meaning in life-which means then, that God is not the purpose and meaning of my life. Which is then, idolatry.

     And you know, of course, that we are all guilty of idolatry. You know, of course, that original sin is nothing but our participation in the age old idolatry of Adam and Eve, who thought they were above God, and could do what they wished. When we begin to think our money, our possessions, our bank accounts, are ours, to do with as we wish-we are turning from God, and idolizing ourselves. Which we are all guilty of! So, where is our hope? Is there any hope for us? Do we throw up our hands, as the teacher in Ecclesiastes, and say, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" Vanity in this sense coming from the Latin "vanitas"-meaning emptiness, worthlessness, futility. Given original sin, given our pre-occupation with ourselves; given our worry and obsession over our income and investments and retirement accounts-do we just throw up our hands and cry, "emptiness and worthlessness-all of this is futile!"

     The answer, comes to us, again, from St. Paul, who writes, "So, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." In other words, God has already demanded your life from you, and you were put to death, in Christ, through baptism into His death. Your life, your possessions, everything you are, has already been buried with Christ, in His tomb on Good Friday, so that you have died to self, died to selfishness, greed and yes, idolatry. Now, we are to be about living the Christ-like life, as we have been raised with Christ, to new life in Him. Which means, setting our hearts, not on earthly things-not on how much we can earn, and save, and store and hoard-but on how we can live our lives, for God, in Christ! We have died and been raised with Christ, to live new lives-asking ourselves, not, what more can I get, but what more can I give, to my Lord and His purposes?! Yes, Paul says, you once followed the ways of the world, practicing fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed-but, Paul says, put these to death in you-anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive language, lies-strip off the old self with its practices, and be clothed with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator-as Christ is all and in all! In other words, as Christ is now in you, and you are being renewed in Christ-then live the Christ-like life-which is, the life of sacrifice and self-offering! As Jesus died on the cross for the sake of the world, give of yourself, for the sake of God and others! To set your mind on things that are above-to seek these things, is to give yourself away, not hoard it all for yourself! Give generously to the World Hunger Appeal; volunteer at the Soup Kitchen, donate to the Red Cross, help build the Habitat Home; and yes, give to Christ's Church, let there be an overflow of money for the ministry of Christ's Body, give more than you thought you could, to the building program-to store up, not treasures for yourself, but to be rich toward God! Truly, nothing shows that your mind is fixed on God, and not yourself, more than giving yourself away, in faithful and growing stewardship. Nothing keeps your life centered on the Lordship of God more than, building, not bigger and bigger barns for yourself, but, for example, building a church that will be serving God for generations to come, long after you're gone. For all of this has little to do, really, with money and wealth and possessions-it has to do with God, and His claim to our lives, and our willingness to live, as the risen people we are, in Christ. And we trust no one will be offended by that!

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.