MATTHEW 25:1-13 | ON NOT MISSING THE BOAT

ON NOT MISSING THE BOAT

MATTHEW 25:1-13

NOVEMBER 12, 2017

KAREN AND I TOOK A CRUISE FOR OUR HONEYMOON.  A WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE.  IN FACT, THAT CRUISE STOPPED HERE IN KEY WEST FOR HALF A DAY.  THIS WAS LONG BEFORE WE CAME HERE TO LIVE.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME IN KEY WEST – ALMOST TOO GREAT A TIME – SEEING THE LIGHTHOUSE, AND THE HEMINGWAY HOME, AND WE HAD GOTTEN A BIT FAR AFIELD, WHEN WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS TIME FOR OUR SHIP TO LEAVE.

WE STARTED OUT BY WALKING VERY FAST BACK TO THE SHIP, AND WITH ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WAY OF GETTING THERE TO GO, WE BROKE INTO AN ALL-OUT SPRINT TO GET BACK TO THE PIER.  WE MADE IT, BUT IF WE WEREN’T THE VERY LAST PEOPLE ON THE SHIP, WE WERE PRETTY CLOSE TO IT.

BUT ON THAT SAME CRUISE, WHEN WE LANDED IN CANCUN, WE SPENT THE EVENING ON LAND, AND CASUALLY STROLLED ABOUT, AND WERE GOING TO STAY OUT A WHILE LONGER – BUT I MENTIONED HOW THE SHIP DIDN’T LEAVE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY ABOUT 2:00 PM, SO WE’D HAVE TIME TO EXPLORE SOME MORE TOMORROW.

ONLY – I HAD READ THE ITINERARY WRONG AND WHEN THE SHIP BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM THE DOCK A FEW HOURS LATER, WE REALIZED HOW CLOSE I HAD COME TO CAUSING US TO MISS THE BOAT ALTOGETHER.

FROM THEN ON, AND ON SUBSEQUENT CRUISES, WE PAID BETTER ATTENTION TO DEPARTURE TIMES!  AND KAREN STARTED DOUBLE-CHECKING ME.

MISSING THE BOAT – THAT’S WHAT THE FIVE FOOLISH BRIDESMAIDS IN THIS MORNING’S PASSAGE DO – THEY MISS THE BOAT – OR THE BRIDEGROOM, AS THE CASE MAY BE.

THEY ARE FOOLISH, AS OPPOSED TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS, THE FIVE WISE BRIDESMAIDS, IN THAT, THEY MAKE NO PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

THEY HAVE NO EXTRA OIL, NO ADDITIONAL WICKS, THEY’VE MADE NO PLANS FOR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE BRIDEGROOM’S ARRIVAL IS DELAYED, AND THEN, WHEN HE IS, THEY GO TO SLEEP, WITHOUT LAYING IN ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.

THEIR COUNTERPARTS – THE FIVE WISE BRIDESMAIDS – ARE BETTER PREPARED: THEY’VE GOT EXTRA OIL, THEY’VE GOT ADDITIONAL WICKS, AND THEY’VE PREPARED FOR WHATEVER EVENTUALITIES MAY COME.

WHEN, AS IT SO HAPPENS, THE BRIDEGROOM IS DELAYED, AND ARRIVES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE FIVE WISE BRIDESMAIDS ARE THERE TO GREET HIM, WHILE THE FIVE FOOLISH ONES ARE RUNNING AROUND TRYING TO BUY SOME WICKS AND OIL.

THEY MISS OUT ON THE PARTY – THE DOOR TO THE WEDDING BANQUET IS LOCKED, AND THEY ARE SHUT OUT.

TRADITIONALLY, THIS PASSAGE IS READ AT THE OUTSET OF ADVENT, AND IS MEANT AS A PARABLE, A WARNING OF SORTS, TO ALWAYS BE READY FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, FOR NO ONE KNOWS WHEN THAT WILL BE.

BE PREPARED – JESUS, (ALONG WITH THE BOY SCOUTS), WOULD TELL US;

AND BE READY FOR THE COMING OF THE BRIDEGROOM, LEST YOU MISS OUT ON ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

THAT’S ALL WELL AND GOOD, AND IT CERTAINLY IS ONE OF THE MEANINGS OF THIS PASSAGE, THE ULTIMATE COMING OF THE KINGDOM; IT’S FINAL COMING; “THY KINGDOM COME…” ACCOMPLISHED!

BUT WE’VE BEEN AT THIS FOR A COUPLE OF THOUSAND YEARS NOW, AND CHRIST HAS STILL NOT COME BACK, AND WE’RE STILL WAITING, BOTH THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH OF US.

IN THE ENSUING TWO MILLENNIALS, AS CHRIST’S RETURN HAS BEEN DELAYED, PREACHERS, TEACHERS, THE CHURCH, AND BELIEVERS, HAVE, AT TIMES, THEN SORT OF RE-WORKED THE MEANING OF THIS PARABLE;

TO GET US TO THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE MAY VERY WELL GO TO BE WITH CHRIST, BEFORE HE EVER GETS AROUND TO COMING BACK HERE.

IN OTHER WORDS, WITH THE LIKELIHOOD BEING THAT WE’LL DIE LONG BEFORE THE KINGDOM WILL COME, OR CHRIST WILL RETURN, PERHAPS, WHAT IT IS FOR WHICH WE NEED TO BE PREPARED, IS OUR OWN DEATH, AND MEETING OUR MAKER.

SO THAT TAKES THE PARABLE OFF IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, ALBEIT, STILL ALONG THE SAME LINES: BE PREPARED!

THAT IS, BE DOING WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING; BE WHO YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE; LIVE AS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO LIVE; BE RIGHT WITH GOD;

SO THAT, WERE YOU TO DIE TONIGHT, THERE’D BE NO QUESTION AS TO WHERE YOUR FINAL DESTINATION WOULD BE.

PREACHERS HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF MILEAGE OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR INTERPRETATION OF THE PARABLE, IN KEEPING PEOPLE IN LINE;

GETTING THEM TO BE, TO DO, TO LIVE, FAITHFULLY, FOR WHO KNOWS WHEN ONE’S TIME WILL COME.

BUT SINCE PARABLES ARE UP FOR INTERPRETATION, AT LEAST TO SOME DEGREE, AND SINCE THIS PARABLE IS ABOUT BEING PREPARED; AND ABOUT THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM;

I’D LIKE US TO THINK ABOUT THIS PARABLE IN YET ANOTHER WAY, ON THIS STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY.

I’LL NOT BE TRYING TO GUILT YOU INTO GIVING MORE UNDER THREAT OF THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM; OR OF YOUR GOING TO BE WITH GOD; NO, NOT AT ALL.

INSTEAD, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU, AND OUR CHURCH, FOR BEING WISE BRIDESMAIDS.

I WANT US TO THINK NOT OF THE ULTIMATE COMING OF GOD’S KINGDOM, BUT OF ALL THE TIMES, THE MOMENTS, THE MANY TIMES A DAY, MANY TIMES A WEEK, THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES; HAPPENS; IS RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF OUR VERY EYES;

AND I DON’T WANT US TO MISS THE BOAT!

YOU SEE, THE REASON WE BUILD BUDGETS; SOLICIT PLEDGES; INVITE YOU TO GIVE; THE REASON WE TRY TO TRANSLATE YOUR GIVING INTO WORKS OF GOD’S KINGDOM;

IS, SO THAT WE ARE PREPARED WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM ARRIVES; AND I DON’T MEAN SOMETIME, SOMEWHERE OUT THERE IN THE FUTURE;

AND I DON’T MEAN LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT, COMING WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT;

I MEAN – WE NEVER KNOW WHEN CHRIST WILL SHOW HIS FACE; WHEN THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO “DO UNTO HIM, AS WE DO UNTO OTHERS;”

WHEN HIS “KINGDOM WILL COME ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.”

LIKE WHEN A TEACHER’S HOUSE IS BLOWN AWAY IN A HURRICANE;

OR A NEARLY BLIND INDIVIDUAL LOSES HIS GLASSES OVERBOARD, AND NEEDS A NEW PAIR;

OR A CHILD NEEDS FOOD AND HAS NONE;

OR A WOMAN A SAFE PLACE AWAY FROM AN ABUSIVE PARTNER;

OR WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ABOUT TO BE TURNED OFF; OR SOMEONE’S ABOUT TO BE TURNED OUT OF THEIR HOME; OR THEIR MEDICINE IS ALL GONE.

J. L. KRAFT, HEAD OF THE KRAFT CHEESE CORPORATION, WHO HAS GIVEN APPROXIMATELY 25% OF HIS ENORMOUS INCOME TO CHRISTIAN CAUSES FOR MANY YEARS, SAID:

“THE ONLY INVESTMENT I EVER MADE WHICH HAS PAID CONSISTENTLY INCREASING DIVIDENDS, IS THE MONEY I HAVE GIVEN TO THE LORD.”

BY PLANNING FOR MINISTRY, BY BUILDING BUDGETS, BY ACCOUNTING FOR WHAT WE HAVE, AND INVESTING YOUR GIFTS, AND USING THEM WISELY;

OUR LAMPS ARE FILLED, OUR WICKS ARE TRIMMED, AND WE HAVE OIL AND WICKS IN RESERVE.

WE ARE PREPARED!  WE ARE READY FOR ANY EVENTUALITY!  WE PAY OUT THE DIVIDENDS ON YOUR GIVING.

IN THIS PAST MONTH’S NEWSLETTER, I TRIED TO TELL YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU, AND THROUGH THE GIFTS OF OTHERS TO OUR CHURCH, WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE, TO DO FOR THOSE IN NEED, IN THE FACE OF HURRICANE IRMA.

IN THE INSERT YOU RECEIVED WITH YOUR STEWARDSHIP LETTER AND PLEDGE CARD, THE SAME INSERT THAT IS IN YOUR BULLETIN THIS MORNING, YOU SEE JUST SOME OF THE MISSION AND OUTREACH OF OUR CHURCH;

YOU SEE OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS AND SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE’VE HAD THIS PAST YEAR, WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM ARRIVED AT OUR DOOR;

WHEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD CAME CLOSE AT HAND.

PLEASE, LOOK BEYOND THE NAMES OF THE ORGANIZATIONS WE HELP SUPPORT, AND EVEN BEYOND THEIR MISSIONS TO CHILDREN; TO NEW MOTHERS; TO THOSE LIVING HOMELESS AMONG US; IN HAITI, NIGER, AND MADAGASCAR;

LOOK BEYOND ALL THOSE WE’VE HELPED;

LOOK BEYOND OUR OWN BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, OUR CHILDREN WHO WE EDUCATE, OUR WORSHIP AND SERVICE, THE COUNSELING WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY, THE SPACE WE PROVIDE TO OUTSIDE GROUPS;

LOOK BEYOND THE BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES, THE CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE, THE SPECIAL OFFERINGS TO SUPPORT OUR DENOMINATION’S WORK AROUND THE WORLD…

LOOK BEYOND ALL OF THAT, AND SEE YOUR GIFTS; SEE YOURSELVES; SEE YOUR GIVING; AND THE WAYS WE’VE KEPT OUR LAMPS FULL AND OUR WICKS TRIMMED.

AS THE BROCHURE SAYS: “SAY TO YOURSELF: I AM THE CHURCH, YOU ARE THE CHURCH, WE ARE THE CHURCH TOGETHER.”

EVERY DAY, IN SO MANY WAYS, THE KINGDOM COMES, THE BRIDEGROOM ARRIVES, CHRIST SHOWS HIS FACE IN THE FACE OF ONE IN NEED,

AND WE, HIS CHURCH, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIRE UP OUR LAMPS, AND MEET THE NEED.

WE, LIKE THE WISE BRIDESMAIDS, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GREET ONE IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, AND ENTER WITH THEM, INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH, AND THIS GREAT BANQUET WE CALL LIFE.

ALL BECAUSE WE WERE PREPARED; WAITING; READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO EXPEND OUR GIFTS, OURSELVES, IN SERVICE OF CHRIST’S NAME.

THE MINISTER WAS GIVING A SERMON ON TOTAL GIVING.  WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR THE OFFERING, THE PLATE CAME TO WHERE THERE WAS A VERY SMALL BOY.

HE LOOKED UP AT THE USHER AND SAID, “COULD YOU LOWER THE PLATE?”

THINKING THAT HE WANTED TO LOOK IN THE PLATE, THE USHER HELD IT A LITTLE LOWER.

“NO,” THE LITTLE BOY SAID, “LOWER.”  THE USHER LOWERED IT A BIT MORE.

“MORE,” SAID THE LITTLE BOY, “COULD YOU JUST PUT THE PLATE ON THE FLOOR?”

THE USHER WAS AGHAST BUT FINALLY PUT THE PLATE ON THE FLOOR;

AT WHICH POINT THE LITTLE BOY STEPPED INTO IT, STOOD THERE, AND SAID, “THIS IS WHAT I GIVE TO THE LORD.”

NOW, FEW OF US WOULD FIT IN THE PLATE, BUT THIS IS THE ATTITUDE MANY OF YOU HAVE.  GIVING YOUR ALL.  GIVING YOURSELVES.  TOTAL GIVING.

WHEN WE REALIZE EVERYTHING WE HAVE COMES FROM GOD’S GRACE IN OUR LIVES;

AND WHEN WE COUNT EVERY MOMENT AS A KINGDOM MOMENT, THAT MOMENT WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM ARRIVES; WHEN CHRIST SHOWS HIS FACE;

HOW MUCH DO WE WANT TO GIVE HIM OURSELVES?  OUR ALL?!  OUR FIRST, OUR LAST, OUR EVERYTHING!

(AND YES, I WAS CHANNELING BARRY WHITE THERE!)

OUR PARABLE FOR THIS MORNING ENDS WITH THE LORD SAYING THIS ABOUT HIS COMING:

“KEEP AWAKE, THEREFORE, FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR.”

IN THE ULTIMATE SENSE OF THOSE WORDS, AS FOR THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, THE FINAL FULFILMENT OF GOD’S KINGDOM, WE DO, INDEED, KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR;

BUT IN THE SENSE OF “THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN” IT’S EVERY HOUR, OF EVERY DAY, ALL OUR DAYS.

THERE IS NEVER A MOMENT THAT IS NOT A KINGDOM MOMENT;

WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM IS NOT WITH US;

THAT CHRIST DOES NOT SHOW HIS FACE;

AND THAT MEANS WE ARE ABOUT GOD’S KINGDOM, GOD’S WORK, ALWAYS… ALWAYS…