Amos 6:1a, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31
Rev. Kenneth M. Locke, Interim Pastor
Orchard Park Presbyterian Church; Carmel, IN
September 28, 2025; 17th Sunday after Pentecost
As Christians in general, and as Presbyterians in particular, we know all we have is a gift from God. All we have is a gift from God and we show our thanks for those gifts by using them well. We manage, we steward, all the good gifts God has given us.
Money is one of God’s gifts. Money is one of God’s gifts to us.
But how do we use it well? What does it mean to be a good manager, a good steward, of our money? What’s the point of money? What’s its purpose?
If we walk down the street asking people why we have money, what’s the purpose of money, I’m sure we’d get any number of answers. Some would say money is simply a means of exchange. It’s easier to exchange money than it is to barter with fresh eggs and bushels of tomatoes. Money is an expedient, that’s all.
Others would say money is for the necessities of life. Money is for food, clothing, housing. Money is meant for basic living.
Someone else would say, no – money’s meant for fun. Buying a fancy car, luxury vacation, the latest fashions. Money’s meant to be spent and enjoyed.
And I’m sure some would say money is an end in itself. Don’t spend it. Hoard it. Look at your bank balance, watch it grow, and feel good you have that much money. More and more money is an end in itself.
Are these answers really the point of money? Is this how God intends us to use this great gift?
Look at our Old Testament Lesson. The prophet is busy castigating the rich.
You lie on beds adorned with ivory
and lounge on your couches.
You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves.
5 You strum away on your harps like David
and improvise on musical instruments.
6 You drink wine by the bowlful
and use the finest lotions,
but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
You’re using your money for your own desires. What Paul would call the desires of the flesh. But you care nothing about the ruin of Joseph; ‘the destruction of Israel’ might be a better way to say it. You don’t care about the suffering around you.
The rich are enjoying themselves, but they’re not helping the poor, the powerless, the downtrodden. Widows, orphans, aliens – forget them. And by ignoring the powerless, they’re certainly not honoring God. No. God is far from their thoughts.
It’s what we see in our Gospel lesson.
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.”
The rich man has plenty of money. But he’s using it for fun! He’s not caring for the poor, sick, starving man right outside his front door. And by ignoring the poor man, the rich man is also not honoring God.
Our scriptures are telling us the point of money, its great purpose, is not for living lives of luxury. The point of money, its great purpose, is to care for the poor and powerless, and thereby honor God. That’s the point of money.
Our Epistle lesson comes at it from a different angle, but I think it ends up in much the same place. Money is seductive. It can lure us away from how we ought to be living.
9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
‘Don’t be fooled,’ it says. ‘Put your hope in God.’
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God.
If I were paraphrasing this, I would say, ‘Tell them to use their money for honoring God. Tell them they’re better off using their money for honoring God and loving the poor and powerless.’
What is the point of money? How do we use God’s gift well?
Our Scriptures tell us we are using our money well when we use it for caring for the powerless and honoring God. We make good use of God’s gift by looking out for the disenfranchised and honoring God, showing God how much we appreciate what God is doing for us.
This is one reason why I think pledging is such a good idea. I don’t mean to be crass, but pledging gets us 2-for-1.
When we pledge to our church, our money is used to honor God. It helps us worship God. The lights are on in the sanctuary. We can afford handbells. We can come together to hear how much God loves us and respond to God with song. Pledging helps us show God how much we love God.
When we pledge to our church, our money is also used to help the powerless, the marginal. We buy eggs for the food pantry. We fill backpacks full of food for children who might have nothing to eat during their school break. We host Together Today where seniors can come together to fellowship and share a meal.
When we pledge to our church, we know God’s gift to us will be used for both loving our neighbor and for honoring God. When we pledge to our church, we know God’s gift to us will be used for both loving our neighbor and for honoring God.
Where is the line between using our money for worldly purposes and for godly purposes? It’s hard to be specific but I think the opening lines of our Epistle lesson point us in the right direction.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
If we have food and clothing, our daily bread, the things we need, let us be content.
All we have is a gift from God. Money is one of God’s gifts.
Beloved, let’s use it well. Let’s use our money for honoring God and loving our neighbor.
If we do, we will surely live lives of contentment. We will live lives of contentment, and God will be pleased.
Thanks be to God. Amen.