"Mattress Stuffing Our Faith" - Luke 19:11-27 - November 11, 2001

Soon after I was discharged from the Navy in the early 70’s I started to attend Sunday School and Church on a regular basis. I was living in Florida at the time and chose a Community Church where my parents were members. One Sunday following worship a man on the Education committee came up to me and said, "I’ve noticed how well you relate to youth, would you be interested in helping with our Junior Youth Program?"

It was a challenge I will never forget. I was active in my home church in youth fellowship and except for raising a family I had never really given any leadership. I wasn’t sure why this man thought I had the right qualities but I said, "yes." I began helping with the youth program and later taught a Sunday School Class. I grew in my faith and confidence in myself to give leadership and after teaching youth I was asked to teach a young adult class. Several years passed and I was asked to serve on their Church Council.

A few more years passed and the company I worked for transferred me to Columbus, Ohio. I immediately got involved in a local church, singing in the choir and later teaching. It wasn’t long before the pastor asked me to be the church’s Lay Leader. I tell you this because I believe these various opportunities of giving leadership led to my call in ministry. I often wonder if my career in ministry would have never come to pass had I said, "no," to the man in Florida.

Our personal skills of serving the church may lie dormant for years if we never say "yes." It is like stuffing our money in a mattress. If it is never invested it never grows and therefore helps no one.

Jesus was irate with the servant who failed to do anything with the pound he had been entrusted with. Instead of investing it, like the others, he hid it in a napkin. He said he was afraid because he did not understand "how one reaps what another sows." Jesus is so mad at this unfaithful servant he takes away his pound and gives it to someone who is willing to take a risk with it.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand this parable. God expects us to use our resources for the sake of God’s kingdom. God wants us to take risks and trust that whatever seeds we sow will produce a harvest. Failure to act is offensive to God and should we hide our gifts, we can expect to lose them to others.

Saying "yes" is not easy. We have other commitments. We have personal dreams and ambitions. I actually had two different careers before I finally chose the ministry. My goal was to be in business, make a lot of money, pursue the "American Dream." I also enjoyed the security I experienced while in the Navy. I didn’t start my ministerial career until I was 32 years old. Why? Because I was afraid.

I was afraid because I didn’t have confidence in myself and going into the ministry didn’t make any sense to me. Why would God want me? The servant who was given the one pound was also afraid because the ways of God did not make sense to him. Perhaps since he was only given one pound he too lacked confidence. But, as the story illustrates he was included in the distribution of resources. He may have been given less than the others but his one gift was important to God.

Everyone here has been given some gift. All of us have talents, abilities and resources to make a difference. You may hide them our of fear. But remember, you are not responsible for the outcome only the investment. Your individual gifts are important and every one of you can help to enhance the kingdom of God.

A man by the name of Elisha Gray had a great invention. He submitted it to the U.S. Patent Office, but he was too late. Just hours earlier another man with the same idea submitted his. His name was Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. I suppose you could say he was "a day late and a dollar short."

The point is this; when we put off using our talents we miss out on some very great opportunities. And when we fail to use our gifts for the sake of the kingdom it only makes the rest of the faithful work all that much harder.

Recently I attended a reception in Troy with my wife, Lin. It was an event that related to her work with United Way. I was introduced to a woman whose name was Ann. When she heard my name she thought for a minute then remembered where she had heard it before. She finally said, "Keith Wagner....you’re on the radio, I listen to you every Sunday!" I was flattered to have a listener, who until now was a complete stranger. It is a good feeling to know you are touching lives in other places.

When I was a teenager I had an opportunity to deliver a message in my home church. It was part of a contest where youth represented their church and then later competed in a district. But, I chickened out. I failed to create a message for the event and didn’t speak. I often wonder how many lives were never touched because I kept my mouth shut.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio