For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;

My sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus,

I love biblical lessons on investing.

Consider these questions: Can we invest with our own knowledge and skills and obtain an everlasting reward? Can we go toe-to-toe with God and answer Him in regard to what is right? Can we expect a return for our investment of time in this Church this Sunday?

To the first and second question, no. We cannot rely on ourselves. We cannot approach God as experts, demanding of Him.

What is sadly lacking in our hearts is humility and knowing our place. It is lacking because society and the world tell us that we are grand. Our ideas are perfect, our opinions and feelings are important. Our desires should be met, whatever they are. False and dangerous reasoning.

For the third question, Can we expect a return on this Sunday’s investment of time? Maybe. If we are led by the Holy Spirit, and come to God of our own free will, perhaps. If we live Christian lives beyond this Sunday morning, all the more certain.

But, we must first come here. We must come and lay our lives and our desires at the foot of the cross.

If we come with humility and the desire for God burning within us we have found wisdom, the worthy wife. —her value is far beyond pearls.—

I thank God that we have been called. That we have been called here, not because of our own righteousness, but because of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Our acceptance of the call and our follow-through in living the call is the outward sign of that wisdom.

Reflect on your parents’ gift to you at Baptism. Your inclusion and membership in the Body of Christ, not by your own desire and demand, but by your humility.

Think about Baptism. A small child, little self consciousness or determined will. A child subject to the will of another. A child, ultimately, really, and symbolically carried to the waters of Baptism. The child, pure humility and reliance.

Jesus told us that we must be as the little children, even now.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light and children of the day.

No, you are not in darkness. You know that, as children, we must be humble before God. You know that we must set our own will and desires aside —“ to let God lead us. To free ourselves from the darkness of earthly desires and enter into the light of the kingdom.

Jesus told Peter this.

—Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.—

And this is what we must do as good investors. We must come to this Altar free from self-will. Reliant only on the grace and love of God. Humble in receiving Jesus Christ into ourselves through the Word and through His body and blood. Dependent on an act of faith, trusting in God. Come forward and proclaim your faith. Stand now and profess your act of faith.