October 7, 2007    

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4; Psalm 37: 1-9; 2

Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10

Pastor Gary E. Benson

Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minnesota

 

“Life’s Greatest Treasure”

As Paul Harvey says, “And now the rest of the story.”  Why do I say that? Because, as we read the gospel lesson, it isn’t clear why the disciples said, maybe pleaded with Jesus, “Increase our faith.” Simply put, Jesus had commanded his disciples, “And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you and seven times says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.”  How tough would that be? Real tough; no wonder the disciples said, “Increase our faith.” 

 

The disciples, it would appear, thought they were at the end of the road: “We have followed you, listened to you, learned from you, Jesus, but forgive seven times seven? We are being stretched beyond our comfort zone, beyond what we feel is reasonable, beyond our ability to simply say, “Yes, Lord.”  At this time, in this place, we need more, Jesus, “Increase our faith.”

 

We have all been there; our life finds itself in a place where, on the one hand, we claim God’s love and grace (after all, we are the believers, the followers), but then life takes a turn and we aren’t feeling the love. We aren’t sensing the promise, power, and presence of God. Know well, God’s people have often found themselves in such a place.

 

In the Old Testament text from Habakkuk, the prophet of God is seemingly fed up with God: “How long will I cry for help and you do not listen?” Or “Cry to you violence and you do not save.”  Get the picture?  Over and over, even for God’s people, life can seemingly go in one direction, down into the valley and pit of despair.  You have been on that road, so have I. So have others.  Think of those in Rushford.

 

Some of you have been to Rushford, most have seen pictures. It is a valley of hurt and heartache -- homes destroyed, business people overwhelmed with loss, and questions.  In one dark and rainy night a progressive and outstanding community has literally been challenged beyond measure.  Yet outside, taped on windows, are the signs, “NEVER, NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!”  Yes,  through it all, in its own words the community of faith prays, “Increase our faith!”  Increase our faith to move beyond and through what we never imagined would be in front of us.  Increase our faith because even though we have followed and heard your promise, Lord, all our days, in these days (amidst our hurt, loss, doubt) we need an increase of faith.  In these days we need a faith that is not (in the words of Timothy) that of grandma or grandpa, those who have provided the stability, energy, resources in the past. In these days we need, ourselves, a spirit of courage and strength, hope and resourcefulness – increase our faith!

 

In that regard, as I drove around Rushford, heard the stories, talked to the people, I couldn’t help but be reminded of a sign I saw in front of a burned out cabin in Cumberland, Wisconsin, years ago. It read, “We shall not survive, we shall prevail!”  So also is the spirit of the editor of the local Tri County Record newspaper, Myron Schober. I have known him, through the Church, for thirty some years.  As his main street business was a total loss, when I met him a couple weeks ago, he had set up shop at Rushford Lutheran in a Sunday School room. He was putting out a newspaper riddled with articles of tragedy, but also heroism, and hope.  Myron isn’t simply “doing a job;” he is giving witness to the faith that is within him, and that scenario, “of living out one’s faith” through action, is happening all through the community.

 

Isn’t it true?  When we cry out as Habakkuk, “How long shall I cry for help?” or plead as did the disciples, “Increase our faith,” in such moments we are stumbling.  However, as in Saint Timothy’s words (regarding), “the sincere faith of his family amidst adversity,” such faith affirms that life’s greatest treasure / miracle especially in the midst of the unexplainable or unanswerable is simply, profoundly, miraculously, “the gift of faith” – the power of God’s spirit stirring in our life and spirit. It is such faith that lifts us up, empowers us in our weakness, and says, “I will not quit, because my God will not quit on me.” ever, ever, ever! 

 

I think of Dr. Alvin Rogness at the seminary who shared words I have never forgotten, “The greatest miracle is not putting satellites in space or landing on the moon. The greatest miracle / treasure is the gift of faith within us…to believe, obey, trust, and follow….to never, ever give up!

 

Truth is, human resources run out. Our human spirit becomes drained and our hope wanes. Yet, as we pray, as did the disciples, “Increase our faith,” our God meets us at the point of our need, increases our faith through the gifts of Word and sacrament reminding us that hurt, heartache, tragedy, hopeless, shall not have the last move, the last action. “Shall tribulation or distress conquer? No, in all these things we are more than conquers through him who loves us.” God always has the last move and it is an action of love – blessing, empowering, and promising, “I will not leave you nor forsake you….ever!”  Such is God’s faithfulness.

 

Today, honestly, I feel a bit deficient. It is Stewardship month; I didn’t say/preach a word about money and budgets.   Why, because I know a great truth: unless we allow our God to increase our faith, our giving, witnessing, and blessing others through the ministries of the congregation will not occur.  However, as we allow our gracious God through Word and sacrament, fellowship and discipleship to increase our faith, then the giving of our time, talents, and dollars will not simply increase, but will soar.  For in the end, stewardship isn’t really about us in the first place. It is all about God’s spirit of love, compassion, and hope stirring through us and being released to bless others in Jesus’ name.