The Lutheran Hour
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"Serve One Master"
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Text: Luke 16:1-13
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Even as those words have given salvation to once-lost souls; they have also changed the destinies of nations. Today, by the Holy Spirit’s power, we ask God to call the hearts of individuals and nations to an acknowledgement of His great grace and protection as given in the crucified and risen Lord. God grant such a change, such a blessing to us all. Amen.
Today I urge our nation to acknowledge the Lord. Before I do so I would invite you to come on a trip with me. Now I should warn, that even though the trip is a figment of my imagination, the places we will go are very real and the people we encounter are equally genuine.
The first place we visit is Tondo, a district of the city of Manila in the Philippines. Tondo has less than a million people, but Manila, of which it is a part, is over 20 million. Manila is a big place, a place with tremendous contrasts between the rich and the desperately poor. We hail a cab, but when we tell him our designation is one of the city’s great garbage dumps, he refuses us. Our trip is made possible only with another cab and only after we have agreed to double the fare. The landfill is a foul place, a place whose odor is oppressive for those who are prepared and overwhelming for those who are not.
As your eyes try to take in the sheer immensity of the place, your brain calls to your attention the small army of young children who swarm over the most recent mounds deposited by the trucks. “What are they doing?” you wonder, “shouldn’t they be in school?” Yes, they should be receiving an education, but quite frankly, they can make a dollar or two picking through the trash and collecting glass and paper and other items for recycling. Along with that, the trash provides their meals. Yes, they should be in school, but quite frankly these children smell. The dump permeates their clothes, clings to their hair, infiltrates their skin. No school wants them except those near to the landfill, and no respectable teacher wants a career in a location such as this.
Our next stop is Africa’s Sudan. We land in Khartoum and seek out a farming husband and wife. His name is Samir; hers is Saiesha. I say they are a farming family, but that is not accurate. They supposedly live in the southern part of the country, but being migrant farm workers, they cover the entire country. Samir and Saiesha are Christians, which means they must be most circumspect in what they say, how they dress, and where they go. It wasn’t so long ago they fled their village because soldiers came looting, raping, and stealing. It has been little more than a year since they saw a young girl flogged because she had violated Islamic shari’a law by wearing pants in Khartoum, the country’s capital city.
Our next stop is the city of Bihar in India. There we meet Hardik. Hardik’s name means “full of love”, but he has known precious little of love since his father gave him a few coins and pointed him to the big city. It was here Hardik was supposed to earn a living. Of course, as a dalit, an untouchable, it was difficult for him to secure a position, other than the one at a carpet-making factory. In this dark place Hardik works 12 hours a day for wages which have been rejected by all self-respecting adults. He gets a few minutes to eat, and his meals are the most minimal of staples. Since Hardik has no home, he finds it easiest just to sleep at his loom. He is one of the estimated 20 to 50 million children in this country who need to work. For his work, Hardik is paid a pitiful pittance. (http://pangaea.org/street_children/asia/carpet.htm)
Our last stop before we return home is In Belem, on the mouth of the Amazon. Going to your hotel you are approached by Adriana. Adriana is 13-years-old and works at one of the city’s five houses of prostitution. There are many other places of prostitution but these five are dedicated exclusively to the exploitation of children. With all-consuming poverty staring her family in the face, Adriana’s family felt she had no choice but to sell herself to rich foreigners. Belem is famous worldwide for child prostitution. Adriana asks if there is anything she can do for you. Embarrassed you quickly reply, “No, no. Nothing for me, but I will pray for you. Adriana, stay well. God bless you.” She smiles, shrugs, and goes back to take her place outside the hotel’s front doors, awaiting her next “customer.” (www.childtrafficking.com/Docs/guardian_angel__child_prost.pdf)
That, my friends, is our trip. That it was an unpleasant one, I have no doubt. It could have been worse. It could have been much worse. But the trip did serve its purpose… it showed you what a large percentage of the world’s population must do if they are to survive. It threw a spotlight on the poor, the persecuted, the people who are alone; the folks who have no one, no family, no community, no government to care for them. Now, having seen what is out there, I encourage you to come home. If you live in a rural area, think upon the town nearest you.
Let me ask, “As you look around, what do you see? How many billboards are advertising weight loss programs? Keep looking around. How about a hospital? Is there a hospital; a clinic; a physician; a pharmacist armed with an adequate supply of meds to help you? Do you have schools? Schools which are relatively clean, relatively safe, and offer the students a relatively good education? Tell me, what do you see? How many homes can’t afford a television? How many garages sit empty because the family can’t manage a vehicle? Do you have parks, playgrounds, baseball diamonds? How about grocery stores? One, two, more? Are their shelves full? Is there a mall with racks so chock-full they must get you in with a sale?
As you look at these things… do you not see a contrast? What do you feel? Are you pleased with your country, with your community, with her leadership? No, I didn’t think so. I only say that because not being pleased with your leadership is a good and time-honored tradition in our nation. Yes, you may not be pleased, but you’re also free to say so without fear of reprisal or retaliation. No goons are going to kick open your front door in the middle of the night. You can say what you want, write what you want, go where you want, worship as you want. I wonder, how many people around the world would not give everything, and I do mean everything, to have just a bit of what you take as being your due.
If you’ve finished your inspection, I have just one more, one very small, little question. That question is, “Why? Why do we have such an abundance, an overabundance of stuff?” We have so much; most of the world can’t imagine it.
Quite a few people would say we have all of this because we inhabit a continent overflowing with natural resources. There can be no denying that the land has produced a bounty. Of course, there are other nations who have many blessings. Not so long ago it was estimated that Afghanistan has over a trillion dollars in mineral resources. They have the natural resources, but… they don’t have the rest.
I know more than a few folks who would suggest we have what we have because we are dedicated and devoted, committed and conscientious in our work ethic. That’s the kind of thinking which can make a person feel pretty good about him or herself. Of course, I’d have a tough time saying that in front of little Hardik. While we work about 40 hours a week, he’s putting in more than twice that. And Hardik has no medical plan, no vacation time, no lunch break, no retirement account.
I’m sure there are those who say we have what we have because we are a spiritual nation coming out of a Judean-Christian background. If that’s the case, then the continent of Africa ought to be really blessed because the percentage of Christians is higher there than anywhere else.
So, why do we have, when others have not? I have an answer. I believe God has entrusted us with these blessings because He expects us to use them to glorify Him. I think He expects us to give thanks to Him for the great grace He has shown us through the sending of stuff and the sending of His Son to save us. Both are blessings; both are undeserved; both come by grace. Understand, sacrificing Your only Son for the forgiveness, the redemption, the salvation of a world which doesn’t appreciate or want Him is an incredible thing and it should be a moving as well as a motivating thing. To see Jesus Christ spend His entire life fulfilling the laws which we have broken, to watch as He resisted the temptations to which we all have succumbed; to see and believe in His victorious conquest over our final enemy, death, is cause for rejoicing. Indeed, who wouldn’t rejoice?
If an unrelated stranger sacrificed himself so you and your family might live, you would be grateful, eternally grateful to that individual. It is impossible for a normal, feeling individual not to experience a sense of overwhelming appreciation to a person who has made such a sacrifice. Indeed, sacrificing Himself to save us is exactly what Jesus has done through His life, suffering, death, and resurrection. Look at Him upon His cross. Have you ever considered what He did that day; what He said through waves of excruciating pain? Listen to Him as He calls out words of forgiveness to those who had murdered Him. To a new believer, the thief who speaks in His defense, Jesus offers the assurance of salvation. To His mother protection and consolation; to His Father in heaven He calls out prayerful communication. All this He did so the Holy Spirit could put faith into your heart and remake, restore, and recycle you. By the power of the Holy Spirit, when the living Lord rules in your heart, you are changed; you become a new creation. Ingratitude is turned to gratefulness; self-centeredness is changed into care for others, and our lostness and loneliness are set aside by our blood-bought fellowship in the family of faith.
Yes, the Lord has blessed us so we might respond to His blessings with a national spirit of thankfulness. That’s what should happen and there was a time in our history when it did. Yes, I know there is a debate about the beliefs of our founding fathers… but there can be no doubt about the faith of the regular Joe or Jane. From the Mayflower Compact on, many people looked to the Lord and they believed He was giving them guidance and assistance, direction and deliverance. May I give just a brief example? On Aug. 27, 1776, just 25 days after the Declaration of Independence was signed by the final delegate, Washington’s army of 8,000 found itself trapped at Brooklyn’s East River. 20,000 experienced British soldiers were poised to attack, but for some reason they didn’t. Some say they were waiting for the fleet, but a contrary wind kept the fleet from sailing.
When night fell, Washington, using small boats, began to evacuate his army across the mile-wide river. In an attempt to save as many as possible, all night long the boats made the crossing, carrying no more than a few men at a time. Of course, Washington knew, with the coming of daylight, the situation would change. Those boats would be easy targets for British cannon. Amazingly, just as the sun came up, so did an incredibly dense fog. Visibility dropped to six yards and it stayed that way until the last boat, the boat carrying Washington himself, set off. The fog suddenly lifted and the British were shocked to see the shore was empty. Guns were fired at Washington’s boat, but he was out of range and not a man in the army was lost.
Today, of course, many will say the whole thing was “coincidence” and “happenstance”, “fate” or “luck.” I can tell you many of the American soldiers kept diaries of that event and they would argue the point. Almost all of them said their “good luck” was due to the intervention and protection of God. And, just for the record, more than one British soldier agreed.
Now you may say you would expect such opinions to be held by uneducated soldiers who were serving in the military more than 200 years ago. You would say that since then we have become more sophisticated and not so easily impressed. If you did say such a thing, you would be right. We have left our commitment to Christ behind and convinced ourselves that we are in control… that this country is of our own creation. We have gone from serving one Master: God, to serving two masters: God and ourselves… and we are now well on our way to kicking God out of the picture all together as we banish Him from court and marketplace, school and college.
Truly, we have convinced ourselves that in this land ours is the hand at the helm. If that is what you believe, then answer: “Just how’s it going? How’s it going without God?” For the first time in our nation’s history parents believe their children will not be better off than they are. How’s it going? Drug abuse is rampant; the family altar is no longer sacred; children are growing up in homes which are repeatedly broken; the life savings of the retired are being whittled away; young families find themselves living under crushing debt; violence is commonplace; and one politician’s promises of happiness and contentment are replaced by another who guarantees the same thing… and neither delivers. How has it been going without God? We have moved, but that movement cannot be called progress; we have convinced ourselves that we are sophisticated but that sophistication has not managed to bring about happiness, contentment, or joy.
In 1776, Edward Gibbon published his book, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. By 1789, the final and sixth volume was published. Gibbon knew nothing of America or Canada’s future. Even so, when he was done, he had identified five reasons for Rome’s downfall. From more than two-and-a-quarter centuries ago, this is his list. Listen carefully and judge for yourselves if it apples.First, the dignity and sanctity of the home is undermined.
Second, there is an increase in taxes and the spending of public money for social programs. (Bread and circuses)
Third, there is a mad chase after pleasure with sports becoming more exciting and more violent.
Fourth, there is a gigantic buildup of the military for protection when the people really needed to be protected from their own decadence.
Lastly, religion decayed and faith faded into mere formality.
It is my belief that God has very deliberately blessed this land and just as strongly I believe that He has entrusted her with the proclamation and sharing of the Savior’s story of salvation. No, I am not calling for an national religion, I call for a respected religion, a religion which is now being attacked and dismantled in the public square and the individual heart. From all that Biblical and global history, there is little doubt that God will, if we continue to renounce our loyalty to Him, do the same for us. He is immensely capable of finding another nation to take up the job. The Lord has called us to serve one Master: Himself. In doing so He has given us an honor… an honor which should permeate our lives, our homes, our day-to-day actions. It is an honor which allows us to acknowledge the Son of God has come to seek and save the lost; has come to call people out of darkness into God’s great light; that He has come to rescue souls from hell and with His life, suffering, and death, guarantee peace and joy to all who acknowledge Him.
Today the call goes out: Serve one Master: acknowledge your Lord. Acknowledge the Lord who has blessed you beyond what you deserve; acknowledge the Lord Who has established and continues to bless you, your home, your family, your community, and your country. Serve one Master; acknowledge the Lord Who is patiently waiting to see us recognize His grace and the value of His Son, our Savior, the crucified and ever-living Redeemer.
To acknowledge the Lord. That is the sum and substance of today’s message and we invite all of our listeners to join us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers)
September 19, 2010
Topic: Hearing God’s VoiceAnnouncer: Now, Pastor Ken Klaus answers questions from listeners. I’m Mark Eischer.
Klaus: Hi, Mark. And I bet we’ve got a good one for today.
Announcer: Well, one of our listeners is perplexed and seeking direction in life.
Klaus: Well, let’s see what we can do.
Announcer: Our listener writes, “I’ve been told that if I want to know what God wants me to do, I’m just supposed to listen (and He’ll tell me). The problem is, I’m not exactly sure what I should be listening for and how can I tell God’s voice apart from my own desires?”
Klaus: Good question. I can’t ever remember having one like that. Most of the time people are trying to get away from God. Here’s an individual who is actually trying to understand and get closer to the Lord.
Announcer: What’s your word of advice?
Klaus: Let’s give this a try. You know, in the Old Testament we hear the story of Elijah who was listening for the Lord’s voice. Elijah kind of expected the Lord to speak to Him in some great, big way. But God didn’t speak to Elijah via an earthquake or through a storm, or lightning, or even in a mighty wind. The Lord spoke to Elijah in a still, small voice.
Announcer: And what did God say to him?
Klaus: He told Elijah to go about doing the things that he was supposed to be doing… and he could be sure that the Lord was going to be with him when he was doing those things.
Announcer: All right. But the Lord also spoke to His prophets in some very special ways, didn’t He?
Klaus: Yeah, He spoke to Moses in a burning bush. He sent an angel to visit with Mary. He came in visions, dreams, all kinds of ways.
Announcer: Well, I don’t think we’re really helping our listener here. All we’ve said so far is that God speaks in little voices but sometimes He speaks in big, miraculous voices.
Klaus: Yeah. I really don’t like to get really too specific here because I personally have a little, small voice speaking in the back of my head?
Announcer: Now, you’re claiming inspiration?
Klaus: No, not at all. I’m claiming experience. In the course of my life I’ve seen an awful lot of men who claimed to be speaking for God. So many of those men were not only not speaking for God, they actually were on the other side.
I’m thinking of cult leaders like Jim Jones, David Koresh, various dictators throughout the world who sometimes claim to be the Lord’s spokesmen, too.
I’ve heard evangelists say that they had to do something or God would strike them dead. They were supposed to go out and raise money and even encourage people to go into debt in order to support their ministry.
Mark, I get downright scared when somebody says, “The Lord told me to do this or that…” I’m not saying it can’t happen, but I simply don’t see it happening all that much. Certainly not in a way which can be verified.
Announcer: Verified? Now there’s the key.
Klaus: Yeah. Here’s the bottom line. When Jim Jones says God told him to lead his followers to commit mass suicide, does that sound like something that God would say anywhere in the Bible?
Announcer: Nowhere that I can think of.
Klaus: Yeah, God believes in the sanctity of life. How about when David Koresh claimed the right to become the husband of a whole host of wives?
Announcer: That doesn’t fit in, either.
Klaus: The truth is, people would love to think that the Lord sounds forth in a distinctive baritone voice, or that God’s going to speak to them if they just open the Bible at random and put their finger on a passage and then they’re supposed to do whatever that passage says.
Announcer: You know, every kid’s movie seems to have a line where somebody says, “Hey, just listen to your heart.”
Klaus: A person’s heart is the last place I’d tell somebody to look. What they’re going to find there is just a whole lot of selfishness. Scripture tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things. I wouldn’t expect your heart to give you the truth, at least saying that this comes from God. You got a choice, here’s what you do. You look instead to what God says to us in His Word as it is recorded in the Bible.
Announcer: Well, how do you tell what God is asking you to do? How do you find direction for your life?
Klaus: OK, we need to say God gave us freedom. Freedom to make choices… in those God-fearing, God-pleasing choices He’s going to be there in blessing. But they are choices… neither is necessarily more right than others. And that’s really the answer our young man needs. If something is obviously sinful or harmful to you or your neighbor, toss it out. God doesn’t want you doing that. But between two choices that are equally right, ask the Lord for His blessing and then move forward with confidence God’s going to be there to bless and to guide you.
Announcer: Thanks, Pastor Klaus. And, with that we come to the end of our broadcast for this week. We hope you’ll join us again next time. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music Selections for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus” From Heirs of the Reformation: Treasures of the Singing Church (© 2008 Concordia Publishing House)
“Preludio” by Arcangelo Corelli. From Charles Callahan Plays the Organ of the Church of the Holy Family by Charles Callahan (© 1997 Charles Callahan)