Sermon - 11 after Pentecost "treasure hunt"

Sermon – 11th after Pentecost
Luke 12:32-40
August 8, 2010
Journey with Jesus sermon series part 7
“treasure hunt”

What does Snooki value?
I was watching MTV and other programs asking the question: What values are coming through here?
I did find a show with positive values on MTV called “If you really knew me” where teens share their problems openly and build a supportive community.

But let’s ask this question. I want to go on a bus and start asking people: What do you value? What would be the answer?
What does Congress value? Budgets express values. What does it say when we cut education and programs for vulnerable? What do the wars we are waging say about our values? About all the billions we spend on wars?
What about the ELCA? What do we value? What do our arguments say about what we value?
What about Trinity? What does our budget say about what we value? What do our actions say about what we value?
What do I value? When it comes down to it, what am I investing in, spending my time doing, what do I treasure the most?

We continue on our “Journey with Jesus” in Luke’s gospel, and on this journey Jesus challenges the values of the status quo, of the Pharisees and scribes; and calls his followers to reorient their values, to urgently take up the values of the Kingdom of God. Last week we heard his parable about the man who hoarded the wealth he was blessed with. And Jesus warned against storing up treasures for oneself and calls us to be rich towards God.
After this he warns about worry: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear...Instead, strive for God's kingdom and these things will be given to you as well." (Luke 12:22-23, 31).
Today Jesus is telling them to sell their possessions and give alms, and make purses that do not wear out, a treasure in heaven, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.”

Where is your treasure? What do you value most? What are your values?
Imagine going on a treasure hunt.
Jesus is making a distinction between treasures on earth vs. those in heaven.
And calling into question our values: Values rooted in heaven rather than earth.
Are our values rooted in the temporary earthly things or in heavenly things? How much do we value what people think about us, acquiring things, fighting for money and power?
Hunting for treasures on earth, we spend all our energy and time seeking them, striving for them, fighting for them, we would do anything for them…
But in reality they wear out. Thieves can steal them and moths can destroy these treasures.

My days at camp we often sang “One tin soldier,” which goes like this:
“Listen, children, to a story That was written long ago, 'Bout a kingdom on a mountain And the valley-folk below.
On the mountain was a treasure Buried deep beneath the stone, And the valley-people swore They'd have it for their very own.
So the people of the valley Sent a message up the hill, Asking for the buried treasure, Tons of gold for which they'd kill.
Came an answer from the kingdom, "With our brothers we will share All the secrets of our mountain, All the riches buried there."
Now the valley cried with anger, "Mount your horses! Draw your sword!"
And they killed the mountain-people, So they won their just reward.
Now they stood beside the treasure, On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it... "Peace on Earth" was all it said.
Chorus: Go ahead and hate your neighbor, Go ahead and cheat a friend. Do it in the name of Heaven, You can justify it in the end. There won't be any trumpets blowing Come the judgement day, On the bloody morning after.... One tin soldier rides away.”

What are we striving and fighting for? In the end, the only real treasure and the only thing worth treasuring is the Kingdom of God. This is the only kind of treasure hunt worth having. Jesus calls us to: Values rooted in heaven. Treasure in heaven. For Jesus, this means one’s life is totally oriented differently
By God’s grace our hearts are set on heavenly treasures and therefore our hearts are free from worry and fear. This is real treasure, it will never fail us.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” And living in this assurance frees us to give cheerfully
So, let us follow Jesus, and follow him on the only treasure hunt worth having, a heavenly treasure hunt. Amen