TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 2014 MATT 25:14-30

 

So, I’ve been cleaning out the cupboards in the kitchen.  I must confess that I don’t like cleaning the house.  It’s a rotten job.  But it’s got to get done.  So I’m cleaning out the cupboards, and in particular the spice cupboard.  Now, when they designed my kitchen in the late 1970s they put this small storage cupboard in the most inaccessible place they could think of.  They probably hired someone just to make things difficult – put this cupboard where no one can reach it, unless they stand on a chair and lean over three feet of countertop, just next to the hot stove.  So, because no one can reach it the spice cupboard hasn’t been cleaned out for years.  So, while I was feeling keen to do some housework I thought I’d tackle the spice cupboard, and at least throw out all the little jars that are past their sell-by date.  And I came across a little tub of Indian spices.  Here it is – Sharwood’s medium curry powder.  Now, this is a remarkable find.  This is the equivalent of finding a Babe Ruth baseball card in the attic, only without the million dollar value.  Here’s what is so amazing about this curry powder.  The sell-by date stamped on the bottom.  March 2005.  This packet of spice is nine and a half years past its sell-by date.  Now, I am willing to issue a challenge this morning.  Go home a look through your kitchen cupboards and I challenge you to find a product that is more than 9.5 years past its sell by date.  I’m so confident that you won’t succeed that if any of you do find something older than that here’s what I’m going to do.  Next March, on the tenth anniversary of this packet passing its sell-by date, I’m going to invite you to my house, and I’m going to make you a curry. 

 

Just now we read Jesus’ parable of the talents, and a businessman who was going on a trip, and entrusting the management of some of his wealth to his staff.  To one he gives 5 coins, to another 2 and to another 1. And you know what happens. Rather like someone who eats a curry made with 10-year out of date ingredients, the 1st 2 take risks.  They could play it safe, set their sights very low, and merely settle for not losing any of it.  But that isn’t good enough for them.  They recognize the great responsibility they have been given.  They also dream – they imagine just what is possible with some hard work and risk.  So they invest; they put the money to work – they wheel and deal and skillfully double their boss’s money.  The 3rd manager plays safe.  He set his goals low.  He is content to hide the money in a hole in the ground so at least his boss will not lose any of it.  And the story ends with the businessman returning from his trip and commending the 2 who had taken the risk and made more money and reprimanding the other one. 

 

Read the full Sermon here: http://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3200577/Matt_25v14.htm