sermon excerpts: "Bulls and Bears in the Market of Faith"

(Matthew 25: 14-30)

A talent, according to different sources, is fifteen years’ worth of a labourer’s wages. It’s the biggest unit of money mentioned in the New Testament. In today’s world for someone at minimum wage, that is more than a quarter-million dollars. Imagine your boss giving you $275 000 before going away on a business trip.

In the language of the stock markets, we have the image of bulls and bears that describe the prevailing investment climate. Bulls represent a market that is on the rise, aggressive and charging forward. Bears represent a market that is sluggish, slow and on the downward slide. One way to keep the two straight is to think of how these animals attack – a bull goes in with its horns and swipes up, a bear stands back and swiped down with its paw.

Given today’s economic climate and the volatility of the market indices, I can understand the caution and prudence the one servant who did not invest but buried his talent. It was safe. It would not lose value. It would not be lost. At least he could return the principle whenever the master returned.

But this lesson is not about Eastern Mediterranean economics of two thousand years ago, it is a vision of what the kingdom of heaven is. Think of a world where everyone could fully be who they were, using their interests and gifts to their fullest, where our strengths could compensate others’ weaknesses, and vice versa. Jesus teaches that life and faith requires our participation. Hiding ourselves, waiting for a better time, is what separates us God’s purpose and vision.

Once again the story ends harshly for person who did not live up to this standard. Last week it was the foolish bridesmaids, this week it’s a worthless slave/servant. His talent, his gift, was not put to use; it stagnated. Even in those days, the notion of “use it or lose it” held some truth. Even then it was “nothing ventured, nothing gained”.

In our day and age of a declining bear market, money can still be made. But it is not so much about profits and losses as it is about being connected in the world. Even the stock markets teach a lesson that we are connected to others in the world – even in the impersonal buying and selling of corporate shares – we are doing business, if somewhat anonymously, with people who have lives, dreams, families and friends, troubles and triumphs.

We do not have the benefit of seeing the twists and in turns in our fortune. All that we know is that our lives are lives of opportunity. Our faith requires our action and involvement. We cannot bury it and brush it off at the end of our life and expect to be satisfied that we have done our work well.

We may not have the thousands of dollars to invest in other people, but we do have relationships that are valued beyond measure and will only increase in worth over time and years. This is our true investment: time spent with one another in community and commitment. Truly we are not alone. Thanks be to God.