Sermon -- TEN WORDS: 7th Commandment (August 23, 2020)

EXODUS 20:15

TEN WORDS – THE EIGHTH WORD.

GOD CALLS US TO RESPECT AND PROTECT HIS GIFTS.

In the name + of Jesus.

      When a rich, young man came to Jesus to ask what he had to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus referred him to the Ten Commandments.  He replied, “All these I have kept from my youth.” (Luke 18:21)  To be fair to the ruler, he was probably not being a braggart.  He was likely a moral, decent, honest man, and he probably was able to keep the Commandments in the strictest, most literal sense of the wording.  He loved his parents.  He was faithful to his wife.  He never killed anyone.  Nevertheless, he knew that his obedience was not enough.  He lacked something.  Jesus' reply showed him that he had a love for money that he was not ready to renounce, and he went away sad.

     We bear some similarities to this rich, young ruler.  Like him, we are convinced that we have handled the Commandments pretty well, too, in the strictest, most literal sense of the wording.  For example, the 7^th Commandment states, “You shall not steal.”  We can boast that we have not engaged in armed robbery.  We have not broken into someone's house to burglarize them.  We have not embezzled thousands from our employer or engaged in insider trading. 

     The Bible, however, is peppered with verses that speak of much less violent and much more common sins against this Commandment.  This is what the Lord says: “Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight, or quantity.” (Leviticus 19:35; NIV '84)  “The wicked borrows but does not pay back.” (Psalm 37:21)  God abhors those who con and swindle, as Solomon wrote, “'Bad, bad,' says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.” (Proverbs 20:14)  To the Corinthian Christians, St. Paul wrote, “You yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!” (1 Corinthians 6:8)  And to other Christians, St. James wrote, “Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you have kept back by fraud, are crying out against you.” (James 5:4)  

     No matter how we do it, our sins against the 7^th Commandment demonstrate that we do not love our fellow man, that we are not content with the gifts God has given us, that we do not respect the gifts God has given others, and that we are only interested in building up our own personal kingdoms at the expense of others.  Just as Jesus exposed the rich, young ruler's love for his wealth, so our Lord exposes our self-serving love in this Commandment and calls us to repent.  In addition, God calls us to respect the gifts he gives and to protect others from suffering the loss of the gifts he gives to them.

      Our Father in heaven has freely and faithfully provided whatever we need to live.  Luther's Small Catechism confesses it correctly: “I believe that God still preserves me by richly and daily providing clothing and shoes, food and drink, property and home, spouse and children, land, cattle, and all I own, and all I need to keep my body and life.” (Explanation of 1^st Article of the Apostles' Creed)  While God gives everyone what they need, the way God blesses us varies from person to person and from house to house.  Some have just enough to get by; but it is enough.  Others have more lavish homes and enjoy greater luxuries.  You might think this is unfair (unless, of course, you are the one with more), but everything that is given is a gift.  If all that we have are gifts, then no one has been owed any of it.  No one has a right to a stockpile of possessions.  No one is owed a particular standard of living.  Luther reminds us why we receive from the Lord what we do: “All this God does because he is my good and merciful Father in heaven, and not because I have earned or deserved it.” (Explanation of 1^st Article of the Apostles' Creed) 

     Our Father in heaven gives his good gifts to all people.  In his wisdom, he has determined how you will be blessed.  More goods does not mean God favors you; few goods does not mean God likes you less.  Oftentimes, the abundance of possessions is a curse.  King Solomon, who had more wealth than you will ever see, declared, “The worker’s sleep is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but a rich person’s abundant possessions allow him no sleep.” (Ecclesiastes 5:12, EHV)  An abundance of possessions teaches us to trust in them, and we are petrified of losing them.  It betrays that we don't trust the Lord will supply our daily bread.  But God calls you to respect his gifts and to trust that he knows how to sustain you from day to day.

     It is lack of trust which motivates us to take matters into our own hands.  We act as if cheating or swindling our neighbor is necessary.  Rather than protect our neighbor and his gifts, we think that our life can only be maintained by hoarding our wealth and by withholding from our neighbor what we owe him.  When we get away with this, we tend to brag about it.  When someone does it to us, we fume.  Therefore, if you know what it feels like to be cheated, then you also ought to know that your neighbor deserves better than this from you.  Recognize that what God has given to your neighbor is God's choice.  It is never our place to correct God's judgment.  God calls us to respect and protect his gifts, whether they are the gifts that God has given to us or to our neighbor.

     No matter how many possessions God grants you, they are all temporary goods.  King Solomon reminds us, “As he came out from his mother’s womb, so he will go again, naked as he came.  From his hard work he can pick up nothing that he can carry away in his hand.  This too is a sickening evil: Just as he came, so he will go.  So what does he gain, he who works for the wind?” (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16)  Unfortunately, we invest ourselves too much in a world that will perish by laboring for money that we cannot keep.  And the more we invest in this world, the less we will be invested in the kingdom of God.

     God calls us to respect and protect his gifts.  His greater gifts are not the material goods we need to live from day to day, but the spiritual gifts that produce eternal life.  Everyone who treasures earthly riches will perish with them.  But if your treasure is Jesus Christ and his word, you will never perish.  For Christ and his word endure forever.

     A few weeks ago, we heard a parable which teaches what our Lord thinks is valuable.  Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up.  Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44)  You are the treasure which Jesus found.  He came into the world and emptied himself of everything in order to purchase and win you for himself.  Jesus gave up not only heavenly glory and honor, but even worldly ease.  He lived a meager life, trusting that his Father would provide for his daily needs.  When he was nailed to the cross, his entire estate was the garment he was wearing, and even that was stripped from him.

     The holy Son of God went to the cross to make himself the payment for our sins.  For trusting in wealth, for devoting ourselves to worldly kingdoms, for cheating our neighbor, and for every sin, Jesus rendered the payment to set you free.  His resurrection declares to you that his ransom price to deliver you from death and damnation is complete.  His ascension to heaven assures you that there is a place where you will go to dwell in God's presence forever.  In God's presence, you will never lack anything.  You will never crave goods that will perish, spoil, of fade.  The only thing that will matter is that Jesus dwells with you and provides all you need.

     But the fact is: That is all you need now; and you have it!  Jesus Christ supplies to you his body and blood which takes away sin, which has conquered death, and which strengthens your faith.  Jesus speaks to you with words that stand firm when economies tank and bank accounts dwindle.  Others may measure you by the clothes you wear, the house you live in, and the car you drive.  And if you don't measure up, they may despise you.  Jesus never despises you no matter what your struggles are.  Jesus assures you that the riches of heaven are yours.  Monopolies and advertisers may try to drain more money from you.  Identity thieves may try to steal your assets.  But the Lord does not scheme to see what he can get out of you.  The Lord continually gives—supplying you your daily bread and pouring out grace and mercy without limit.  You can't buy these blessings, but the Lord gives them for free.  And they are the only blessings that save.

     God calls you to respect and protect his gifts.  We get to use the blessings God pours out upon us to care for family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.  We get to protect the property and income of people whom others might try to cheat.  We are grateful for God's generosity and goodness.  But mostly we are grateful not for what we get to spend, but for what Jesus spent on us.  You are the treasure for whom Jesus gave up everything to gain you for himself for eternity.  This salvation shall be respected above all and protected at all costs.

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