|
| |
“Mind Over Material Matters”
Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Mark 10:17-31; Psalm 22:1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16
Rev. Sandy Nuernberg
Oakland-Cambridge Presbyterian Church, Cambridge, WI
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Domestic Violence Awareness Sunday
October 15, 2006
Did you wonder, like I did,
looking at the title of the sermon today, is it, ‘mind over material matters’,
or is it ‘mind over material, matters’? When I pondered the text Nancy read in
Hebrews on mindful matters, and then in Mark where we hear of material matters,
possessions, I had a sense of wonder. It seems, for me, that our texts are
replete with mindful matters and material matters, and they are in reference
to or in our faithfulness to God and to each other.
Possessions, as one defines them,
can be in at least two forms, it seems; to have ownership of anything; in Mark,
something such as wealth or property, power or honor. Also, possession might be
that of being in control of oneself, being self-possessed; our thoughts of love
of something or someone, or anger. Each of us can relate to these kinds of
possessions, materially, and mindfully. Having ownership of our homes, our cars,
our purchases in everyday life are our personal possessions. Having possession
or control reminds me of a sporting event Rick and I went to this week-end in
Madison; it is the start of the hockey season and the Badgers have ‘possession’
of the puck when they score a goal. Or in football, the Badgers recovered a
fumble from Minnesota Saturday, and took control of the ball (and game ) for a
touchdown! These are mindful and control possessions, because the team strives
for control to win the game.
We know all about material
possessions in today’s world; in this our consumer-minded and
possession-equipped world of abundant living, don’t we? Americans are known the
world over for what we possess, more so than what we do not possess; not one but
a family of cell phones! Our abundant living includes much that is over-sized
and overloaded; isn’t that why we have weight restrictions at the airport when
we travel? Or why shopping carts are sized to hold a seemingly enormous
amount–with children as they select the best cereals! Or our over-sized bodies
that don’t know when to stop eating at restaurants that try to please all
appetites. The point, the idea here is being overloaded with so much that
matters, that we have tough decisions to make for our lives; how much, and even
how much more!
But think of it; Jesus talked of
three situations in our text in Mark of so much of the goodness of God in
attaining the kingdom of God. We are witnessing Jesus describing the power, the
sovereignty of God in each; first, to a rich man, where Jesus tells him
he loves him; this remark isn’t said anywhere else in the Gospels. Jesus loved
the rich man, but he had some tough truths to tell him. In knowing God as the
Good Teacher, and in keeping the commandments to attain eternal life, the rich
man knew from Jesus that only God was good. We are not perfect but God sure is,
and Jesus knows it and shares God’s wisdom with the rich man. But the rich man
grieved, walked away and really thought his possessions were to be a blessing,
not a curse.
Second, in looking around, Jesus
talked to his disciples about the wealthy having a tough time in entering
the kingdom of God, unless they gave all their possessions to the poor. For
mortals, people like us, Jesus says, it’s not possible, ‘but not for God, for
God all things are possible.’ ( show pillow —‘With God anything is possible!)
Wealth, privilege, power, these material matters are dangerous in excess and
Jesus admits this to the disciples. The disciples are like us because as in
antiquity, honor and wealth were signs and symbols of accomplishment and what
was needed for a person to get anything in life. For what was attainable, the
rich and famous could have it. But Jesus shocks them saying the kingdom of God
is for the poor, not the rich. The disciples are astounded, like the rich man,
and think that no one can get into God’s kingdom.
Last, to the many, Jesus
said, for the sake of the good news of the gospel, the rewards are many for
those in this age and in the age to come (eternal life) that seek the kingdom of
God. If we allow our possessions, our material matters to control us, God has no
way of being present in our lives. But if we are mindful of God’s presence,
materials don’t matter. Jesus ends his wisdom to his listeners in familiar
fashion; I counted not less than nine times in places of the Gospels where he
states this same thing, ‘but many who are first will be last, and the last will
be first.’ In every instance, Jesus uses this phrase before he foretells, now
the third time, his death and resurrection.
The promise here by Christ Jesus,
either individually, or as a whole creation of God, is that God is faithful
still and in our faithfulness to God and to others, the kingdom of God, or
eternal life is attainable. It’s mindful for our hearts, minds, bodies, and
souls to think about our decisions and others. Jesus is saying that God is
living, God is active, and is like ‘a two-edged sword’ in our hearts and minds,
and intends for us to be accountable, not only to God, but to each other.
Christ Jesus, as we also know has
been there. He has been tested, has walked the walk with us on earth and
sympathizes with our weaknesses; Jesus has been through the mind over material
matters. Jesus gives one rich man, his disciples, the many, an overturning of
conventional wisdom of mindful matters of the heart of God. His wisdom will help
us to serve others and ourselves. It is not the insistence of material matters
of wealth and power that force us into conflict, confusion, and contentment with
possessions of the self. It is the wisdom of God.
The good news of the gospel for us
is that as faithful believers, we know Christ Jesus, who without sin is faithful
to us, as sinners. Jesus’ good news as wisdom for his disciples was, upon
leaving all of their possessions and following Him, they would receive rewards
of one-hundred fold now and in eternal life. Let us therefore be mindful of
God’s grace and love for us, not in our material matters, but with boldness and
in the mercy of Christ to be faithful, and yes, to help others in times of need.
Indeed, let it be so that mind over material matters!
AMEN.
|
