Sermon Title: "What's in Your Wallet?"
Date: October 19, 2008
Minister: Rev. Charles E. Ensley, Jr.

Lesson:  Matthew 22:15-22

So far, three people in the last week have told me they liked my sermon title:  “What’s In Your Wallet?”  However, given the plummeting stock market and an economic crises not limited to sub-prime mortgages or our country alone, the better question might be “What’s left in your wallet?”

Both retirees and pre-retirees have seen their life-savings take a nose-dive.  My sister told me last week that her accumulated retirement plan lost $23,000 according to the last statement.  One of our investments lost nine percent in September.  I can’t imagine what the October statement will look like, or the soon-to-arrive third quarter report of my 35 years of accumulated pension earnings.  And if the third quarter takes a dive, I don’t want to see the fourth quarter report.

Timing is everything, from when you get into the market or when you get out.  And I don’t imagine that the compilers of the Revised Common Lectionary several decades ago, who this season have been following a continuous read through the Gospel of Matthew, realized that this twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost, when Jesus is asked by the Pharisees whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the Roman emperor, occurs in the midst of most Protestant church’s fall stewardship drive.  In fact, our pledge letter for next year went out in the mail last Friday, just as was planned more than a month ago, and before the current economic crisis hit full stride.  A fine time to be asking you to support the church; and, by the way, can you afford to give three percent more next year?  What’s left in your wallet?

The Pharisees were following after Jesus as avidly as the media was stalking Joe the Plumber last Thursday.  Wherever either of them went, there were the questioners seeking a quick sound bit.  The Pharisees had their minions approach Jesus, and with mock flattery, they stated:  “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth…”  Jesus was not swayed by their hypocritical nature as they asked if it were lawful to pay taxes to the emperor.  The tax in question seems to refer to a Roman tax upon the harvest and personal property of the Jews who lived in this country the Romans ruled.  The religious leaders helped to collect the tax, even though many Jews objected to paying the Roman tax on theological grounds.  Resentment of Roman taxation and domination had sparked pockets of revolt through Judea and Galilee in recent years.  So taxation by and for a foreign power represented a rather heated topic, just as any discussion of falling sales, failing banks and foreclosed homes and stores does today.  If Jesus answered one way, the crowds opposing the tax could easily turn against him.  If he answered the other way, it would cause the Roman officials to take note of his revolutionary idea.  By asking this question publicly, the officials believe they can effectively nudge Jesus to one side or the other, thereby forcing him to lose the favor of some.

But Jesus spots a way out.  He asks the disciples of the Pharisees for the coin used for the tax, and they give him one.  Notice that the Pharisees are in possession of the coin, not Jesus!  I don’t expect that Jesus carried around any money.  There was nothing in his wallet.  “Whose head is this, and whose title?” he asks them. 

You might want to know coins of the period bore the image and inscription:  “Tiberius Caesar, august son of the divine Augustus, high priest.”  Though emperors were not typically venerated as divine during their lifetime—although some desired such divine status while still living—the veneration of past emperors lent religious favor to the politics of Rome, in whose Empire there was no separation of religion and state.  So, you see, for devout Jews—who to this day do not use the fully spelled-out name of God in their worship—to have coins implying the Roman emperor was divine was indeed blasphemous.  Talk about a hot potato—such coins were anathema to them. 

Looking at the coin the disciples of the Pharisees held before him (it never says Jesus held the coin himself), in one quick move, he slips completely out of their trap.  “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

By saying that what is already the emperor’s should be given to him, Jesus avoids a direct yes or no response — one that would get him in serious trouble with either the Jews or the Romans.  But in answering the way he does, he gives an indirect yes.  He implies that paying this tax is not against the Jewish law.  But he then goes beyond the question asked by the Pharisees and says that what is God’s must be given to God.  Loyalty to God is on a different and much higher level of importance than simple earthly loyalty to the emperor.

About two weeks ago, I found the short slogan that is on the signboard outside:  “Give God what’s right, not what’s left.”  Little did I realize then how well it would tie-in with this gospel lesson.

There’s certainly a lot of meaning to be found in money.  Jesus knows that money is a major factor in the shaping of our lives, and he focuses on it a great deal in his ministry — more than he emphasizes human sexuality.  In fact, his focus on money is second only to the kingdom of God.  This is important for us to realize, for when the church talks about the money needed to support it, people often feel we are dealing with a topic Jesus would never discuss.  Not so … not so.

I want to be very clear this morning that when I talk about support of the church, I do not know the individual amounts that specific people contribute to this church.  I know what the Ensleys pledge by credit card each month.  My mother-in-law has lived with us for nearly ten years.  I do not know how much she pledges.  Same with my daughter Amy, who has pledged since she was confirmed here a dozen years ago.  In fact, our treasurer told me she contacted him regarding her move to Sonoma last August and completing her pledge for the year here, even though she’s attending the United Church of Christ in Sonoma this morning, and likely putting something in that offering plate as well.

The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd, III, the dean of Washington National Cathedral, has some tremendous insights into stewardship.  He makes the point that since we live in a consumer culture, we need help in learning how to be generous.  The poor can help us, since they tend to practice greater generosity than the rich.  The Bible can help us, since it recommends the tithe – a 10-percent gift that helps us to give in a disciplined way.  Money is an important part of our spiritual life, and we need to learn how to express our beliefs not only with our words, but with our wallets.

So … what’s in your wallet?  What’s it saying to you?  And how are you going to use it?

Lloyd notices that people will give generously when they believe that there is an important mission at work, and when they see real opportunities to advance God’s interests in the world.  This requires being clear about the mission and ministry of the church, and adding concrete details to the invitation of Jesus to give “to God the things that are God’s” (v. 21).  People will give with boldness and generosity when they see mission projects that heal the sick and liberate the oppressed, at home and abroad … Christian education programs that shape the hearts and minds of children and adults … worship services that glorify God and uplift the people … fellowship activities that move people from isolation to community, and from casual acquaintance to deep-spirited friendship.  These are all opportunities to advance God’s interests in the world, and to serve a Lord of love and generosity by living lives of love and generosity.

Take a look at a typical American coin, and you won’t see the inscription “Tiberius Caesar, august son of the divine Augustus, high priest.” Instead, you’ll see the words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust.”

The phrase “In God We Trust” challenges us to rely on our good and gracious God, and to believe that God will care for us in the future, just as he has cared for us in the past.  The word “Liberty” reminds us that we are free to be generous in our giving, as faithful stewards of the great abundance that the Lord has given us.

In a loving and generous God we trust, with liberty to support God’s work in the world.  We each have an opportunity to decide for ourselves to what extent we want to support God’s work through our church . . . first, before we check to see what’s left in our wallet.