Sermon-Please Don't Help Me

"PLEASE DON'T HELP ME, I'M FALLING"

Rev. Steven Sweet
Tarrytown United Methodist Church

October 24, 1999

Text: Matthew 6:19-21

Much of the teaching in the gospel of Matthew is offered in response to the many opponents of Jesus. Throughout Matthew’s gospel we are confronted with persons who try to trick Jesus, who present personal attacks and try to put Jesus on the defensive. But, this section of teaching is different. It is not a response to detractors, but a quiet and deliberate teaching offered to his followers. This teaching is a part of the larger sermon-on-the-mount. In the sermon-on-the-mount Jesus offers teachings about the religious life, the rich abundance of life; life that can be found when one lives in proper relationship with God. The text read today may be one of the most straightforward and clear teachings within the whole sermon-on-the-mount.

But the clarity of a text like the one read today may cause us to long for a more obtuse teaching or parable of Jesus, one of the parables that offers a quizzical teaching rich with enigma that searches out an array of interpretation options. Because in this text it seems quite clear what Jesus is teaching both his early followers and we modern disciples.

And what is the teaching? The teaching is that where you place your valuables, your possessions, your wealth, where you place your money will affect your heart and your heart’s condition. In this text the heart refers to "the heart of the matter." The real person we are. The totality of our being. It is where we really live. The heart is the seat of our emotions, our wishes, and our desires. In other words, who we really are, all wrapped up in our emotions, our wishes and our desires will be affected by where we place our money.

Do you remember the television commercial about taking the Nestea plunge? I was reminded of this commercial at the great Methodist gathering in San Antonio October 9, 1999. The box lunches distributed to participants at the gathering contained a can of iced tea. Iced tea in a can. It seems the norm today but having iced tea available in a can is only a recent reality. Taking the Nestea plunge is the commercial that ushered in the new reality.

The Nestea plunge commercial goes something like this. A person deposits some money in a vending machine and when a can of tea appears the person’s life begins to change. They begin to experience a new reality. They hear, see, and experience a series of uncontrollable unfolding events. Music raises in the background and water emerges behind the person. The water may be a swimming pool, a lake, or a scene from the beach. As the person begins to drink the canned tea they start a free fall into the water. They fall straight backwards into the water. Flat on their back they are refreshed, and full of both joy and tea. This display of energy and emotion creates a desire for the fun-filled free fall into the water. We then wish that we, too, can find a vending machine that we can insert our money into and begin this journey into a new reality. The point of the commercial is that taking the Nestea plunge changes your life. Changes the way you perceive the world and the way you behave. When you deposit the coins and take the plunge you begin to do things that you might not otherwise do. Like taking a fully submerged dip into the water wearing an evening gown or some black tie get up. And this change of life and behavior can begin with the deposit of coins in a vending machine. No, it will begin with the deposit of your money. After all, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Now none of us really want to take a Nestea plunge in our best attire. And none of us really feel comfortable or safe when we fall straight backwards. As you know, there is a strong inner resistance to that. We surely don’t want others to see us in the water in our dress up duds. It may be too childish, too immature, too unconventional, or too something. Whatever it is, it is too much to bear thinking about the potential social scorn or public embarrassment attached to such unexpected behaviors. All I can say is, "I hope I don’t find one of those vending machines." And if I do run across one I am not about to deposit any coins. How about you? After all, when that money is deposited a series of events begins to unfold that is beyond our control. Put our money in and we end up in some kind of water, all wet and in our nice clothes. We don’t really want to behave in such ways. Maybe, we think, we can just drink the Nestea without the plunge. Drink the tea and that will be the end of it. We might think we are immune from having to see this series of events to its wet and drippy conclusion. But, the truth is that when we deposit our money it does set into motion a series of events that will unfold. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And it is both the truth and the fear of this truth that makes this teaching in the biblical text and in the television commercial so powerful.

Let me see if I can describe what I’m trying to say. If we spend money on a cap and or tee shirt with a team logo, is that the end of it? Oh, no. It’s just the beginning. Once we invest our money in our team’s attire a series of events in our life begins to unfold. We begin to listen to and contribute to conversations about our team’s performance. We now have an interest in the win-loss record. And those formerly unknown players become part of our everyday life. We then begin to take a quick glance at a formerly unnoticed sports page and we begin to develop a determination to catch the full newscast: news, weather, and sports. Some of us develop into fans and some of us become fanatics. Then our emotions begin to attach to the team. We begin to get defensive with others when they discuss "our" team. We begin to wish for our team’s place in the title game. And our desires go beyond a mere viewing of the game, our desires propel us into the role of an active spectator participant. If only we had kept the money in our pocket or purse and not purchased that cap. But how could we have possibly predicted what new realities would become our reality? How could we have seen or predicted the series of events that would spring from a simple deposit of coins to purchase some team logo? The truth is, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

No interest in the business section of the newspaper, you say? Could anyone persuade or coerce you to read the mini-print in the New York Stock Exchange daily report? No way. But what if you already have money invested in the market? Is it different? Of course it is. When you place your money into a given stock or stocks your heartfelt interest in following the market, reading the tiny 1/8ths and 1/16ths in the paper and catching a glimpse of the running ticker tape on CNN takes on a bullish quality.

If we put our money into team apparel or into the stock market we will find ourselves at the beginning of a predictable journey of unpredictable events. Events that will unfold not outside of ourselves or "before our very eyes," but within the deepest parts of our very being. In and from our heart. Our emotions, our wishes, and our desires, our whole life will follow where we put our money. In other words, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It seems a frightful thing really, this investment to transformation teaching. Because, after all, we do know that our heart follows our treasure. Out heart will be where our treasure is. We want to live as God’s people. We want the changes that God will work in our heart and life. We are not the opponents of Jesus, we are the modern day followers of Jesus. But, what series of changes will take place if I begin to store up for myself treasures in heaven? How will my life be affected? What series of events will unfold when we place our money into our heavenly trust? The investment of money and life Jesus calls us into is a sobering, truthful, reality.

As you know, this is the time of year when we make our estimate of giving for the upcoming year. It is our stewardship campaign. This week is the middle week of a three-week emphasis on the stewardship of gifts. The concluding service and consecration of our investment of money, faith, and life is scheduled for next Sunday. As you give serious consideration to your estimate of giving this year I hope you don’t just test the waters of the faith life with the end of your big toe. I hope you give serious and prayerful consideration to make your deposit and take the plunge. When you do, a series of events will unfold in your life that will be unavoidable and unpredictable. Who knows what will unfold? Of course no one knows but the text teaches when we store up for ourselves treasures in heaven transformation of heart and life will follow. As we make our financial contribution we open up our heart, our emotions, our wishes, and our desires for transformation. We open our lives, our true self, to be touched and transformed by God.

We may begin reading material previously seen as uninteresting or undesirable. We may find our deeper self emotionally attached to Christ, the kingdom and the Church in ways previously unthinkable. We may find our self in conversations that are new and richly rewarding. We may begin a journey that will lead to a joy filled experience that is misunderstood by onlookers. We may even join a crowd with cheers of "UMC it’s fantastic." Or we may be transformed in ways that will make others think we are nothing but a fanatic who is all wet. I think that may be the scary part.

You see I don’t think we fail to give sacrificially because it is a sacrifice. We are hesitant to give sacrificially because of our deep awareness of the truth in Jesus’ teaching. We are often cautious to invest our money, and store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, because we really know that this will truly open us up to a series of new possibilities that will unfold in and through us. Yes, us.

I don’t think we limit our giving because we want to hold on to our wealth as much as we are hesitant to lean straight back and trust God with our life and our future. You know that falling backward, even if it is in the arms of God, is a scary way to rest. When we are in control, falling on our face is one thing, but falling backward, that’s another.

And it may be better to be all dressed up and have no place to go than to be all dressed up and be seen as all wet. How others may see our life or our intentions may prevent us from storing up treasures in heaven. But, I wouldn’t be too quick to place blame on others, really. We know that consequences will follow when and where we put our treasure. We hold the coins. We make the decision when and where to deposit them or to keep them in our pocket or purse.

I am reminded, however, of a childhood friend who would always say, "come on in, the water’s fine." But, it never was fine. It was always cold, uninviting, and sometimes down right miserable. So I won’t invoke that invitation. But, as you reflect on your giving, investing in a heavenly portfolio, where your treasure is, and where you want your heart to be, will you consider taking the Nestea plunge?

Let us pray.

God, You are the giver of all good gifts. As we reflect on our giving during this stewardship emphasis, help us to not simply be grateful recipients. Help us to be open and amenable to your invitation to transform our heart, life, and future through our giving. Help us to be heart wise with our treasure. Amen.

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