Lives in the Balance: The Almighty Dollar

[audio http://www.opcbrookhaven.org/worship/audio/sermons/01-24-10.MP3]Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 Luke 4:14-21

In modern-day Nazareth, there’s an historical reconstruction of the Biblical town called Nazareth Village. It’s not particularly historic itself, but when you go there, you do get the sense that you are walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

Among the items built there is a reconstruction of a first-century synagogue, much like the one Jesus would have visited in our lesson. It is surrounded by benches. The teacher reads from down below. And out the door, you can look off the precipice toward the modern city of Nazareth.

In this lesson, Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah. It would have been his role as a guest not only to read this scroll but to comment on it. And that text, that lovely Isaiah text, is a passage about restoration to a people who have long been in exile.

The “year of the Lord’s favor” to which Jesus refers is the Jubilee. Provisions for the Jubilee celebration were made in Leviticus. It was meant to be held every fifty years, after seven times seven years. Property was to be returned, debts were to be forgiven, slaves were to be freed. We might think that this is a naively idealistic idea. And, in fact, there’s no evidence at all that this practice was ever put into effect. But it raises very important questions for us about our relationship with money.

In this series, called Lives in the Balance, we are looking at the many things we have to juggle in our lives. And this week, we are taking some time to consider how having balance means that we keep money in proper perspective.

How do we view money? Most of us have an unhealthy relationship with the stuff. Yes, there’s the obvious way that we might be out of whack: bad spending patterns, mounting debt, gambling addictions, and so on. But unhealthy patterns of money can be much more. Money often becomes emotional and can be the source of conflict. Or let’s think about it this way: how accurately would someone be able to determine what you value by looking at your checkbook or your credit card bill? Does it show your priorities? How about the amount you spend on certain things? Is that the value and place they have in your life? What do you pay at the first of the month? Do you squirm when the pastor starts talking about money? Or does the pastor squirm when he does so, knowing who it is that pays his salary?

Jim Wallis, the editor of Sojourners, has a new book out entitled Rediscovering Values: A Moral Compass for the New Economy. For Wallis, the recession has raised important questions. Among them, he sees that the crisis has revealed that “no invisible hand behind the curtain is guiding our economy to inevitable success.” He goes on to observe that “the market has become god-like” for us. And rather than asking, “When will the crisis be over,” the faithful question is, “How will it change us?”

From the present, let’s jump back for a moment to that ancient Jubilee. Is it, in fact, an idea that is thoroughly impractical? Maybe…but that’s not really the point here. Jubilee is simply a financial manifestation of forgiveness. It is a reminder of what God has already done for us in Christ. Think of the Lord’s Prayer, O Presbyterians, in which we pray every week for God to forgive us our debts…as we forgive our debtors.

I think we’re tempted at times to see financial status as a sign of our merit. That may be true at times, but it’s not a predictor of our worthiness. But let’s for a moment, just assume that this is actually true, that the more we have the better and more moral we are. If so, then what about those who have amassed a fortune and are comfortable? Is it because of hard work? Is because of intelligence or talents used for gain? If so, who is the giver of those talents, intelligence, and drive?

And, on the flipside, assuming that premise is still true, what about those who are on the margins? Is it because of laziness? Have they made mistakes or have had a string of bad luck? If that’s all true, do we consider them worthy to receive grace? Do they deserve forgiveness, too?

What would it mean to give it all away? What would it mean to reset the clock every years and start over? Can we live as though God is reliable? Can we live as though forgiveness is real?

This week, I invite you to take a look at your checkbook or your credit card. See what it is that what you spend might reveal about your priorities. Whatever it might say, here’s what Jesus says to those in the synagogue: “This reading has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Jubilee may be a “pie in the sky” idea, but the reality of grace and forgiveness is already here. Let us live like it makes a difference.

Amen.