Be Brave

November 13, 2011 22^nd Sunday of Kingdomtide

Judges 4: 1-7, Psalm 123, 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11, Matthew 25: 14-30

Be Brave.

Today as we thank our veterans for their sacrifices on behalf of our freedom, we also thank God for each one of them. Whether they had a forward, in-the-thick-of-things, battle front position, or whether they were at a post in the mid-west driving a fork-lift, or policing the deck of a supply freighter, we are thankful that they did their duty with honor and bravery.

One subject that our scripture hits on today is bravery. Now when we first read this parable, which is often called the “parable of the talents,” we don't necessarily think of bravery. What we do think about most of the time is stewardship, and how important it is for us to use the things that God has given us rather than not using them. The talents in the parable are often taught as being a symbol for the gifts, graces and talents that God gives to us.

Another way of looking at this parable is to think about the idea of bravery. In the previous chapter of Matthew we come to see that Jesus is teaching from the Mt. of Olives. In chapter 24 Jesus has mentioned the destruction of the temple, the sacred and holy place of cult worship for the Jews. This statement has prompted many questions about not only that event, but also questions about the Eschaton, which is a fancy word for the end of time.

The disciples have fired question after question at Jesus. When will this happen? What signs will there be to signal the end of time? What signal will we have to your return? As Jesus answers these questions one by one, he ends his explanations with one word: watch. Jesus wanted his disciples to watch, to wait, to be prepared, to use the time they had remaining anticipating and looking for his return and the fulfillment of the kingdom of God on earth.

To illustrate how disciples are to behave in his absence Jesus tells them some stories. The first is a parable about 10 bridesmaids, five wise ones and five foolish ones. The second parable in this chapter is the one we have today and the third is about the separation of sheep and goats. One interesting thing to notice about Jesus's parables is that they are always stories that come from real life. People listening to Jesus clearly understood his stories about the wedding, a master and slaves, and how a shepherd takes care of sheep and goats.

In a nutshell the parable of the 10 talents is about a master (represents Jesus) and three of his servants. The master is leaving for an extended trip, and while he is away he has left with each of his servants a large sum of money. The master has not told them when he would return, and neither has he told them what to do with the money he is leaving to them (the servants represent Jesus’ disciples).

We notice that the master gives each servant a different amount of money. The talent would have been the equivalent to the paid one might receive in 15 years of work. A talent of gold[1] today is worth about $1, 440, 000. One server receives five times that amount, five talents, another servant two times that amount, two talents, in another servant one talent. Obviously, the master knew the potential of his servants and he gave to them accordingly.

After a long time the Bible says the master returned and he calls in his servants to see what they have done with the money he has left them with. Two of the servants have doubled what they received, but then we read about the one whom the master calls his lazy and wicked servant, the one who has only kept the money safely hidden away.

The master is not happy about how the lazy and wicked servant used the money he had left him with. The servant certainly had reasons. And in the economy we are living in today, keeping money safe seems like a good idea. Particularly if we believe that it might be easily lost in the marketplace. In some ways, I think we all feel a little sorry for the servant, because isn't it good to save money?

It is good to save money if our saving money is done in order to secure it for a worthy project. But saving money out of fear is not so good. What Jesus was trying to get across in this parable is that this servant was acting out of fear. The relationship that he had with the master was not the same as the relationship the other servants had with the master.

This wicked and lazy servant believed that he served a harsh master, that he was the type of man who gathered where he did not sow. The servant, rather than taking a chance on losing the Masters money, squirreled it away, never used it, he totally disappointed the master, and lost his place in the household (cast out).

But the master was not who the servant thought he was. He had freely given to his servants. I believe that the parable indicates that the master knew that the lazy servant was lazy. But he was willing to give him some money, some resources to work with. I'm certain that the master hoped that the servant would see the faith and confidence he had placed in him; that he would see the opportunity he had to use what the master had given him. Unfortunately, he didn't. He was afraid.

Since the lazy and wicked servant’s story is so dramatic, we often overlook the other two servants in this story. Too bad, because these are the servants that you and I would want to emulate. I know that all of us here want to please the Lord, and when the Lord returns we want to be able to offer to him evidence of how we have used the blessings and gifts he has given us.

So how is that done exactly. The first two servants in the parable had a different relationship with the master than the wicked and lazy servant. I believe that they understood that they served a generous master who had left them in charge of his wealth. I believe they understood also that the master certainly had hopes and expectations that something would be done with the gifts that he had given them. Otherwise, the master could've taken the money with him, or have placed it in a bank to draw interest. The two servants understood that they must do something with what they had been given.

One of the servants had the equivalent of 7 1/2 million dollars, and the other had 4 1/2 million to use, and to use without any instructions from the master. They had to figure out what to do on their own which involved taking a risk. Anything that they invested the money in had the potential of either growing the money or it could've been lost.

The servants were willing to take the risk because they trusted the master as the master had trusted them. Have you ever wondered what may have happened if the two servants had taken the money and it had been lost? I think the point Jesus was making in this parable is this one: God has given each of us a certain measure of gifts, blessings and talents; given them to us in proportion to our abilities to use them. Each of us is given the opportunity to take what God has given us and use it on God's behalf to the glory of Jesus Christ, God’s son.

That sounds easy enough to do. But if we are afraid that God is harsh; that our value is somehow tied to our performance and that we will be judged on God’s return on investment… then of course, we will be afraid of God and we will live our lives in fear. I believe that Jesus could have told this parable in a different way. Jesus could have represented that the first two servants risked the master’s money and lost it all. I believe that the master's response in the parable would have been exactly the same.

I believe what God wants for us is that we take the risk to use with God is given us fearlessly, which brings us back to the idea of bravery. Bravery means having courage; having courage to do the right things for the right reasons; having the courage to take a risk… possibly risking everything, without knowing the outcome.

Every veteran who has ever served this country has a measure of bravery. They risk losing such that able things as family, friends and livelihoods when they are taken away from their homes. They risk losing their lives on the battlefield or in training. Of course, some veterans must have a greater measure of bravery than others, because each has their own service to give. Every veteran has been brave enough to take the risk of service on behalf of you and me. They continue to serve us today as models of courage and bravery. Here is the story of one American veteran.

Drew Daniel Dix: [2] Dix was born in West Point, New York, and raised in Pueblo, Colorado. He enlisted in the Army at age 18 in 1962, hoping to join the Special Forces. Initially turned down because of his young age, he spent three years serving with the 82nd Airborne Division before being accepted into the Special Forces at the age of 21. Dix is a decorated United States military veteran and retired major in the United States Army. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War; he was the first enlisted Special Forces soldier to receive the medal.

The President description of S.Sgt. Dix’ fearless deed. When he presented him with the Congressional Metal of Honor.:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Dix distinguished himself by exceptional heroism while serving as a unit adviser.

Two heavily armed Viet Cong battalions attacked the Province capital city of Chau Phu resulting in the complete breakdown and fragmentation of the defenses of the city. S/Sgt. Dix, with a patrol of Vietnamese soldiers, was recalled to assist in the defense of Chau Phu. Learning that a nurse was trapped in a house near the center of the city, S/Sgt. Dix organized a relief force, successfully rescued the nurse, and returned her to the safety of the Tactical Operations Center.

Being informed of other trapped civilians within the city, S/Sgt. Dix voluntarily led another force to rescue 8 civilian employees located in a building which was under heavy mortar and small-arms fire. S/Sgt. Dix then returned to the center of the city. Upon approaching a building, he was subjected to intense automatic rifle and machinegun fire from an unknown number of Viet Cong. He personally assaulted the building… rescuing 2 Filipinos.

The following day S/Sgt. Dix, still on his own volition, assembled a 20-man force and though under intense enemy fire cleared the Viet Cong out of the hotel, theater, and other adjacent buildings within the city. During this portion of the attack, Army Republic of Vietnam soldiers inspired by the heroism and success of S/Sgt. Dix, rallied and commenced…[lending aid and] captur[ing] 20 prisoners, including a high ranking Viet Cong official.

He then attacked enemy troops who had entered the residence of the Deputy Province Chief and was successful in rescuing the official's wife and children. S/Sgt. Dix's personal heroic actions resulted in…the rescue of the 14 United States and free world civilians. The heroism of S/Sgt. Dix was in the highest tradition and reflects great credit upon the U.S. Army.

For a soldier, S/Sgt. Dix demonstrated the kind of bravery everyone who is trouble needs. In order to be a hero, S/Sgt. Dix had to risk himself, and to put others’ lives ahead of his.

You might say…that’s war. We’re not at war here in Long Shoals. To which I might respond…really? Are there no lives at risk here? Are they’re none who need to be saved? Is there nobody who needs help?

Jesus tells the story of the master who left his servants with a big stash of wealth to do things with in his absence, and the master hoped…the master hoped…that the servants would take what he gave them and put it to good use. We see that some bravely trusted their master, and well…one did not.

What has the master left with you? What great treasure have you been given? What are your plans for using it? Are you going to use it? Or are you going to save it?

It takes courage to take what you have been given and put it to work for the Lord…which brings up one last question (well, two) for us: How brave are you? How brave is God hoping you will be?

Amen.

[1] http://www.biblestudy.org/beginner/bible-weights-and-measures.html

[2] Cited from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Dennis_Dix