'Nice shoes?'

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11 ESV)

This morning I watched the first 10 minutes of the news on the hour, sipping my coffee as another all-too-common (and near-narcotic) beat-down spread over me, piercing my soul around 5:08. Another police officer killed, a gender-neutral restroom debate, plans by some Republicans to launch an all-out “nuclear” (ramped-up character assassination) attack on Trump, middle school teacher’s semi-nude photos on her phone found by one of her students, and (this was the coup de grâce) the shoes and matching bracelet (pictured) confiscated by the TSA in Baltimore…oh, yeah, and, speaking of Baltimore, there was a video clip shown of a Baltimore police officer in a school roughing up a kid about half his size Gestapo-style. I tell you, it was enough to make me want to grab a shovel and go into the backyard, dig a hole, then sit there in the pre-dawn quiet and suck my thumb. (Sometimes we just need a “dandelion break”.) 

But, life goes on in this disfigured, disordered, and dyspeptic world. So much sermon fodder! I was going to comment beyond that first paragraph, then decided I needed a change of direction. Rather than rant and rave about a world gone mad, I dusted off a sermon from 2007, delivered just before Superbowl Sunday on material blessings...

Martin Luther said once, “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all. But whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” 

This is the one Sunday of the year when the gods (with a little “g”) come out in full force, those pesky little status symbol and immediate gratification gods that too often block our view of the one Big God.  The ads alone during the Superbowl on television that tell us what to wear, where to find a mate, how to dress, what to drink, where to gamble, and what to drive now draw more attention than the game itself!  No other American cultural event can compare to the marketing blitzkrieg… Enjoy the game, enjoy the ads, but beware of the lure of the little gods this afternoon!  Keep in mind Who really owns that big screen tv you’ll be watching and that comfy couch you’ll be sitting on in that nice warm house of yours…

In our Gospel text this morning from Luke, Jesus, after wowing a group of Galilean fishermen, remarks to His disciple Peter that the overflowing nets are nothing in comparison to what he and the other disciples are about to become-- fishers of men.  In order to do so, these men would be asked to give up everything dear to them and follow Jesus.  To The Fisherman Simon Peter, this couldn’t possibly mean giving up his sole means of support for him and his family, could it?  Give up his boat?!  Yes.  Jesus was asking Peter to rely upon Him from now on, not his boat.

You may have heard the following scenario [in blue], created by Joyful Hearts Ministry pastor, Dr. Ralph Wilson, in which Jesus uses Peter’s fishing boat to make a point about material blessings and what Jesus is asking of each of us still today…

"Nice boat."

Simon looked up from mending his nets to see a tall man touching his boat. It was Jesus, whom he’d first met down in Judea where Simon had been listening to John the Baptist’s teaching. Jesus himself was a teacher these days, Simon had heard.

Jesus was fingering the joinery of Simon’s boat, admiring the handiwork. "Very smooth," he said.

"Benjamin the boatmaker finished it last fall," said Simon. "Last boat he made before he died."

Jesus ran his hand over the planks along the side of the craft. "It looks tight," he said, "Mortise and tenon joinery. Must have taken a long time to make."

"A long time is right!" Simon put down his nets. Talking was a lot more enjoyable than mending. 

"Benjamin and his son took seven months. I thought they’d never finish. And he charged me a pretty penny. But then, I probably have the best boat on the lake." Simon got up and came over to the boat pulled up on the rocky beach. "You look like you know something about wood."

"I’m a carpenter like my father before me," Jesus said, extending his hand. "Good to see you again. Mind if I look at the stern?"

Simon hesitated for a split second. It was a new boat, and he didn’t want just anyone clamoring all over it, especially someone not used to boats. But his pride got the better of his anxiety. "Sure, just be careful not to trip over those ropes."

Jesus climbed into the boat and examined it carefully: rudder, oarlocks, sail mount. "Benjamin built you an excellent boat," he said as he climbed out. "By the way, I’ll be teaching this evening along the beach. I was wondering if you could assist me getting the crowd seated tonight. I need a helper, if you’d be so kind."

"Glad to help, Jesus." He liked to be needed, and he liked the fact that a carpenter had pronounced his boat the masterpiece Simon knew it was.

That evening, after an attempt at crowd control, Simon sat enthralled. "The blind man you see healed before you is evidence of God's power among you to heal your life, set you free, and give you joy! The Kingdom of God is here," Jesus had preached. "Turn around and get your life right with God!"

This wasn’t the learned discourse of your average itinerant teacher, quoting from Rabbi So-and-So to buttress his opinions. Jesus taught with a native authority, a boldness that left the self-righteous Pharisees in the crowd speechless and brought the common people to tears of shame and repentance. As the sun set and the people got up to leave, Simon himself had been shaken. Here he was, a loud and profane fisherman. Was he ready for God’s Kingdom and Messiah? He was a good fisherman, yes. But a good man? Not really.

No time for reflection now. Capernaum’s fleet was getting ready to put out for another night of fishing. Simon and his brother Andrew pushed the boat off the beach and gave it a running start before jumping in themselves. They rowed out a few hundred feet and cast the first of many nets. They would be busy all night casting, then hauling in, casting and hauling in.

Just as dawn began to streak the sky with pink, Simon and Andrew threw out their final net of the night, ready to head in, sell their catch, and get some sleep. It had been a long night, but a better catch than most this week.

"Si-mon," a voice echoed across the water. "Si-mon."

Simon watched the net sink below the surface of the lake and then looked up. It was Jesus. Jesus, whose words of the Kingdom of God had challenged and gnawed at him all night as he had toiled.

"Si-mon." The call came a third time. Simon lifted his hand in recognition.

"Follow me!" The word was sharp, short, demanding. "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Fishers of men? Catching men rather than fish? What could he mean? But Jesus was calling. He was calling now!

The net was still in the water where Simon had thrown it, floats still bobbing, still there to trap some unsuspecting fish. But the fish wouldn’t find its way to a breakfast table this morning, because both Simon and Andrew were over the side and swimming to shore. Dripping, they dropped to their knees before Jesus.

"Simon." Simon could feel the Teacher’s hand on his wet, tangled hair. "Simon, follow me."

Simon looked up. "Yes, Lord, I’ll follow. Where are you going?"

"You’ll see," said Jesus, pulling Simon’s arm gently as a sign for him to get up. "And Simon, I’ll need your boat."

His brand new boat, pride of the town fleet? What did Jesus want with the boat? Simon looked up. 

"Sure, you can use it," he replied slowly, "... when we don’t need it."

"But I need it," Jesus insisted. "You own the boat, don’t you?"

"Of course, Lord, I own it outright. It took me three years to earn enough extra to pay for it."

"And you’ve decided to follow me, haven’t you, Simon?"

"Yes, of course, Lord."

"Then your boat needs to follow me, too," replied Jesus. "Not just you, but everything you are and own need to follow me, to be at my call when I need them."

Simon was ashamed. "Yes, Lord. Please take my fishing boat. Use it whenever you need it.... I really want you to. Forgive my selfishness."

"You have a house, Simon?"

"Yes, Lord, I have a house."

"I need to use that, too."

"My house?"

"Yes, your house."

"Uh, Jesus. How can I say this? My mother-in-law lives with us and she isn’t very well right now. I’m not sure we should disturb her, with her fever and all."

"Your boat and your house and you must follow me, Simon."

"Yes, Lord."

"And I’ll take care of your mother-in-law, you’ll see. Why don’t you lead the way?"

"Yes, Lord," said Simon, and he and Jesus and Andrew walked up from the beach into town as the sun peeped over the hills.

This story is entirely fictional, but based on Gospel accounts in John 1 and Matthew 4. You know, of course, that when Jesus got to Peter's house, his mother-in-law was healed from her fever, and the house was used as Jesus' base-of-operations and the site for many teachings and healings. The boat, too, was used to transport Jesus and the disciples on their mission in Galilee.

Even the disciples themselves were unsure and no doubt even a little skeptical about Jesus’ insistence on leaving everything-- all of their worldly goods, things of value-- and following Him. Later in Luke, Jesus lays it all out to a rich man who wants to know how to get into heaven: Keep the commandments, sell everything you own, and give the proceeds to the poor.  We are just like the rich man as we hear Jesus instruct us to do likewise; it’s easier said, than done.

Nowhere in Scripture are wealth and possessions condemned by God.  Like Peter’s boat, everything we have-- money, house, car, all of our earthly status symbols-- were His to begin with!  When we claim ownership of our material things, not only do we place them ahead of God and we begin to “worship” them, rather than the God who has provided for our every need, but we impede God’s plan for us at the same time!    

In fact, when we honor the Lord with our firstfruits, that is, giving first to Him of our time, talents, and treasures, we are truly putting Him first in our lives.  But, again, like the disciples that we are, we find this much easier said than done…on all three counts, time, talent, or treasure (especially the latter!).

It has been said that God’s people possess God’s provision to accomplish and fulfill God’s purposes in the world; yet, I read somewhere recently that the average weekly church offering per worshipper is $10. The average person probably spends an exponentially greater amount of time in front of their television or computer than in church or engaged in some type of church activity, especially those who attend only a worship service on Sunday. And, how many folks do you know of who can truthfully say that they are sharing their talents, abilities, and skills with Jesus in an effort to truly grow His Kingdom on Earth?

The Lord Our God doesn’t very often ask us to test Him; however, when it comes to giving-- of any kind!-- He is rather insistent in the 3^rd chapter of Malachi: “Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”(3:10) And in the same chapter, God admonishes the descendants of Jacob for robbing Him of tithes and offerings... God doesn’t want much, even less proportionally than the standard gratuity or tip we would give a server in a restaurant today!

Successful stewardship is part and parcel to successful discipleship.  When we recognize that our riches are God-given, we are truly putting God first.   

Sadly, most of the world thinks they own what they have; those that have been bought by the blood of Christ understand that the earth is the Lord’s and that WE are the Lord’s. And He’s made a good deal for us, actually. He has promised to bless the remaining ninety percent if we recognize His ownership by giving what is His to Him. To withold the tithe is to be, as Malachi tells us, a thief and a robber. When we give God the firstfruits of our time, talent, or treasure, we recognize His ownership and put Him first. When we give to God out of a heart of gratitude, we maintain an honest relationship with Him. When we give to God of that upon which we have placed a value, we express our understanding of the value of who He is and what He’s done for us. We recognize we are bought with a price, and we are not our own.

On the topic of giving, however, it is most distasteful to talk about money, which I think most would agree, directs the engagement of our time and talents.  Billy Graham once said: “Give me five minutes with a person's checkbook and I will tell you where their heart is.” But I would like to wind up this message with a personal testimonial to financial giving. A few years ago, before I was a member of the church, I accompanied my wife to a congregational mini-seminar on financial stewardship, during which a few folks gave witness to how the practice of giving 10% of their income to the church-- to the Lord-- first had changed them spiritually, and how the Lord had responded in abundant blessings and grace in their lives. I was in the Navy at the time and we had just bought our first house and were living paycheck-to-paycheck. So I sat there, listening and thinking to myself, 10%?! No way-- we can barely afford to feed ourselves, much less give more than a few bucks each week to a church! That was about 14 years ago. And those church members, those brothers and sisters in Christ, we absolutely correct when they spoke about tithing that day. We regularly insist in this church that financial offering should never be compulsory, but that each of us should give as our hearts lead us. In our household, a tithe to the Lord that has truly blessed and kept us is now a way of life. Since beginning the practice in earnest, I can truthfully tell you that the Lord continues to respond in abundant blessings and grace in our lives today.

So go ahead and test the Lord God Almighty on this one: give to Him first, the firstfruits of your time, talents, and treasures.  God’s grace is full of Promise...and promises. In the same way He has promised you life-everlasting through the sacrifice of His only Son, I can assure you that He will keep this promise, too.

Listen closely, maybe Jesus is saying to you: “Nice singing voice.” “Nice lawn.”  “Nice webpage.” “Nice volunteer work.”  “Nice cooking.”  “Nice clothing drive.”  “Nice drawing.”  “Nice reading.”  “Nice writing.”  “Nice leadership.” “Nice electrical work.”  “Nice plumbing job.”  “Nice number-crunching.”  “Nice hospitality.”

“Nice house.”  “Nice car.”

 “Nice boat.” In Jesus’ name, amen.