Ecclesiastes 5:10–20

January 27 2013 Stewardship Sermon

¹⁰He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. ¹¹When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? ¹²Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. ¹³There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, ¹⁴and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. ¹⁵As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. ¹⁶This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? ¹⁷Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger. ¹⁸Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. ¹⁹Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil— this is the gift of God. ²⁰For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Oh, the vanity in the midst of our humanity. Our eyes see the paths of vanity, our ears hear the words of vanity, even our gut senses this vanity and we are afraid—afraid for ourselves who live in the midst of this unwise and vain generation. So vain is the fool who fears not God, for the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Oh, the vanity in the midst of our humanity.

Oh, the vanity of those who love wealth but oppress humanity—those who beat down the weak and poor in our midst by ignoring the crying need and oppressive hunger of their poverty. "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money...He who loves wealth will not be satisfied with his income, this also is vanity." They are so arrogant in their position of honor, as they lord it over the poor, that they think not of the One who is higher, yet became lower. So in love with their possessions. So tied to their bank accounts. So arrogant are they in their violation of justice and righteousness that they think not of the Righteous One who judges. So arrogant are they in treading upon the down trodden that they think not about the One who has been lifted up upon a tree and lifts us up. Oh, the vanity in the midst of our humanity.

Oh, the vanity of those who seek riches at the expense of humanity. So vain is this love of money that they consider all to be theirs and do not consider the Giver of all things. "There is a grievous evil that is seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt." So vain are they in the pursuit of wealth that they are blinded to the open hand of the Creator. So intent are they to increase income, the they hold their possessions close, while those around suffer and groan in poverty. That is to despise the hand that satisfies the desires of all the living; the one who sold all he had to give to the poor; the one who became poor to make us rich. Oh the vanity; vanity of vanities.

Who are these vain ones? Who are those who oppress others to build themselves up while holding fast to what is theirs? Who are those who cling to things? This is itself a grievous evil, for these vain ones are us! You, me—vanity in the midst of humanity. We who take the things of God and keep them as our own. We who accept his gifts for our own selfish use. We who, have not been stewards of God's things, rather have made ourselves owners and keepers. We who are afraid if we give what is ours to aid the poor, that we will become the poor.

A grievous evil, for in truth, naked we are born into this world, and naked we shall depart. We have sinned against you, O Lord, in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. By the love we have not shown. By not using your gifts and possessions for the good of our neighbor but keeping them for ourselves. By not using your resources placed in our care to spread the gospel, to shepherd his flock, and support the Lord's work on in his church. By not being good stewards of our time, talents and treasures for the service of God. By not speaking up in defense of the oppressed, the weak, the unborn. By not being a voice for justice in a world of injustice.

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." We are to "do honest work with our own hands so that we may have something to share with anyone in need," says St. Paul. That is what stewardship is all about. But we are too vain. The vanity of humanity is the sin of all humankind, for we are sinners, and in sin did our mothers conceive us. There is not one of us who has done good—no, not one. Corrupt in word and deed, evil in thought and practice, dark in desires and pursuits. We have not been good stewards. We all have sinned and fallen short—far short—of the glory of God; God who has emptied himself on a cross that we might be filled. The vanity of sin has overtaken humanity.

"I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin." He has forgiven, and has covered us in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ—all the sin, all the vanities are washed away in the precious flood. "Blessed is the one whose sin is covered." Blessed are you, for the baptismal flood has washed you into the kingdom! Blessed are you—go, and sin no more!

We are forgiven, but the vanity persists—the vain ones continue to rant and rave. This sin of selfishness is an ever present and persistent reality in our midst, even within ourselves, and we are tempted. We are burdened, we are overwhelmed, we are oppressed. The vanity of sin swells and seeks to engulf our souls. But, do not be dismayed, for he has borne our sins and carried our sorrows—he was stricken, smitten and afflicted—he was the Lamb led to the slaughter that we might not taste death. Behold, all this he has done for us, that we might not be overcome.

Stewardship is doing what God does—He gives himself to us. God gives, gives, gives; he is benevolent and friendly. He carefully crafted the universe; carefully positioned the sun and moon on behalf of creation. He is the one who gave his all for us so that we can give our all for one another. He is the one who died so that we might live. He is the one whom we serve through our stewardship, the one who kept nothing for himself, the one who gave everything for us.

"Whatsoever you do unto the least of these my brothers, you do unto me." Stewardship is doing unto Jesus. Feed the hungry, you feed Jesus. Give drink to the thirsty, you give drink to Jesus. Welcome the stranger into your home or church, it is Jesus who comes in. Support your church with your offerings, your time, your service, you are giving to Jesus. Stewardship is doing unto Jesus. Loving your neighbor is loving Jesus.

Behold! See what is now good and fitting! Eat, drink and find enjoyment in all the toil of this life that God has given us. For it is in that toil that you serve Jesus. That is your stewardship—doing honest work with your hands so that you may have something to share with anyone in need. Wealthy or poor, powerful or weak, accept the lot given you and rejoice and be glad, for this is the gift of God so you can give to others. It is all God's and stewardship is merely using God's things for the good of your neighbor. Stewardship is God using your hands to bear one another's burdens, to support one another's needs, to walk one another's path—so rejoice and be glad for we are one and we give thanks to the One who has made us one. Rejoice and be glad—Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and it is with great joy that we walk in His ways, ponder His truths, and rejoice in the life that he has bestowed by his all availing sacrifice.

This is the blessing and privilege of the children of God; that even though there is vanity in the midst of humanity, even though we struggle to focus our eyes in the midst of this glaring darkness—there is One who drives it from our midst, one who pierces this vain darkness with marvelous and wonderful light—a light to lighten our salvation and to bestow joy upon his people.

Once you were no people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Vanity is vanquished, the power of sin, death and Satan are overcome—holy blood is shed and we are redeemed; precious water is poured and we are named His own. And, my friends, this is the blessing and privilege of the children of God to walk in his ways on this earth, hand in hand, loving one another, supporting one another, giving to those in need of our gifts and abilities. We walk in the ways of Jesus as we bring our gifts to God in thanksgiving and our hearts are filled with the joy that is held before us. As we are prepared to live in the eternal presence of our God, we walk in stewardship; loving our neighbor by actions, serving him with the gifts and talents and treasures God has given us in order to give to those in need of God's love and who need to hear and be nourished with the Gospel which gives eternal salvation. In Jesus' Name. Amen.