Ord. 26: Faith and Treasures (feat. Pr. Vieth)

Trinity Lutheran Elkhart Homilies

This week’s reading from St. James offers a stark warning to the rich about the fleeting nature of wealth, while the Gospel contains harsh admonitions about sin, with Jesus encouraging the removal of anything that causes sin, even if that means drastic measures. Despite this challenging message, we can find hope in the first reading of the lectionary for this week, where Moses wishes for all of God's people to be prophets, filled with the Spirit. Like all of the weeks of this series, we are invited to be open—to God's Word, to seeing others and ourselves through Jesus’ eyes, and to receiving wisdom that is pure and sincere. This openness should extend to using our time, talent, and treasures to serve God and others, echoing the refrain of the sermon series, "Be open."
1. Wealth and Possessions are Temporary: The readings warn against placing too much value on material wealth, as it will eventually decay and fail to bring lasting fulfillment.
2. Openness to God is Crucial: The central theme of the sermon is "Be open." We are called to be open to God’s Word, to seeing others as He sees them, and to using our time and talents for His glory.
3. Everyone is Called to be a Prophet: Like Moses, God desires all His people to be filled with His Spirit and to proclaim His Word through their words and actions.
4. Sacrifice for Righteousness: The Gospel reading emphasizes the importance of cutting out sin from our lives, even if it requires difficult or drastic changes.
5. Commitment to Service: The sermon challenges the congregation to commit their time, talent, and treasure to God's work, embracing openness as a way of life in their faith journey.