Our Money Story --- Restore

 

John 21:1-19          Common English Bible

Later, Jesus himself appeared again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how it happened: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter told them, “I’m going fishing.”

They said, “We’ll go with you.” They set out in a boat, but throughout the night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples didn’t realize it was Jesus.

Jesus called to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”

They answered him, “No.”

He said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

So they did, and there were so many fish that they couldn’t haul in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they weren’t far from shore, only about one hundred yards.

When they landed, they saw a fire there, with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter got up and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. Yet the net hadn’t torn, even with so many fish. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples could bring themselves to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.”

 

 

On my second Sunday with you --- almost 5 years ago --- I asked you a rather simple question --- I asked you to show me Jesus --- and what I said was --- what would you show me?  How do you show Jesus to the world?

If there is anything that I have tried to teach you --- it is that your story matters. 

How people see you spend your life

--- spend your words

--- spend your actions (or inactions)

--- how you spend your money

are all pointers toward the Jesus you proclaim.

For the past month we have been talking about Our Money Story --- looking honestly at how we use the resource of money to proclaim the kin-dom of God.

We began by remembering --- remembering that it all belongs to God. 

God is creator of all that there is --- and that God provides to meet our needs. 

But we also remembered that money can be used to betray --- as Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Then we practiced releasing shame, anxiety, guilt, greed, or anything that keeps us from freedom and wholeness.

We release the elements of our money story that prevent us from fully living into God’s story. 

The freedom from releasing those things that hold us back free us from ourselves --- and liberates others.

Last week we began to reimage our money story.

We began to reimage a world where our social and economic systems provide for and benefit all of God’s children.

And that brings us to today.

The whole purpose of this journey --- of remembering, releasing and reimagining is to help us experience the wholeness that God created us for --- so today we look at our money story and how it can help us restore right relationships with one another.

Those of you have gotten to know me have heard me share the story of Jacob over and over. 

If you have ever visited my blog --- you know the title is Wrestling with God --- because like Jacob --- I have wrestled with God.

Jacob --- whose name means: "to follow, to be behind" because he was the second twin born (behind his brother Esau) but it also means "to supplant, circumvent, assail, overreach" --- which is the story of Jacob’s life.

Jacob, with his mother’s help --- cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright and blessing from their father Isaac.

Because of that --- Jacob is forced to flee the wrath of his older brother.

While living in exile he marries --- and is tricked by his cousin Laban into marrying Laban’s eldest daughter Leah and not the one he loved Rachel. 

Eventually, Jacob --- who has grown very rich decides it is time to return home and confront his elder brother.

On his way to meet his brother --- Jacob wrestles with God --- and wins!

          God blesses Jacob and gives him a new name.

                   No longer will he be the supplanter, but he is now Israel

We are told in Genesis:

“Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it’s Israel (God-Wrestler); you’ve wrestled with God and you’ve come through.”

Jacob/Israel fears encountering his brother, Esau, whom he has deceived --- so he devises a plan to attempt to appease his brother. 

He offers half his riches.

In Genesis 33 we read:

Esau said, “What’s the meaning of this entire group of animals that I met?”

Jacob said, “To ask for my master’s kindness.”

Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what’s yours.”

Jacob said, “No, please, do me the kindness of accepting my gift. Seeing your face is like seeing God’s face, since you’ve accepted me so warmly. Take this present that I’ve brought because God has been generous to me, and I have everything I need.” So Jacob persuaded him, and he took it.

I already have everything thing I need --- God has been generous to me!

We are invited in this story of Jacob and Esau to think about restoration in our own lives.

We cannot earn salvation --- but we are invited to examine our heart’s attitude toward stewardship --- as we as we investigate our own experiences, fears, desires, and passions with money.

Restoration is an act of grace.

Yet I am convinced that good stewardship practices can restore healthy relationships between people, the earth, and God.

Lives are transformed in the giving of gifts to change and repair a broken world.

It is in the act of giving that we often find that we are being reconciled to God.

Our Gospel story continues this theme of restoration. 

This story takes place a week or two after the resurrection.

The disciples have all returned home --- disillusioned, disappointed and no doubt confused about all that they had experienced while Jesus was with them --- and they have gone back to their pre-Jesus lives.

We find several of them back out on the Sea of Galilee --- fishing --- trying to make a living.

But John wants us to know that this had not been a successful fishing trip.

They have been fishing all night long and have caught NOTHING.

A stranger shows up on the beach and suggests that if they just throw their nets on the other side of the boat --- they will catch some fish.

          Not advise most of us want to hear.

But --- for whatever reason --- they decide to give it a try.

And the result was that they were overwhelmed with fish.

But I don’t think the abundance of the catch is the point.

          Jesus is offering a restoration

Remember how we began four weeks ago --- the disciples gathered with Jesus around a table --- remembering stories and dreaming of a new way of life.

          A new economy in which there is enough for everyone.

          A new dream for how we too are to live in community

We end with Jesus and his disciples in virtually the same place:

The disciples once again gathered around a table

          Confused and trying to figure out a way forward.

What I love about this story is that Jesus gives us clear instructions on what we are supposed to do.

“Feed my sheep.”

Because the old way does not work.

It’s not the first time he has told us this.

Do you remember when the crowds had gathered and had been listening to Jesus teaching them and the evening became late.  The disciples come to Jesus and said to him:

“This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.”

YOU --- You “Give them something to eat” --- You “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus is reminding us that the old way no longer works.

He is telling us today that our old money stories no longer work as well.

Sure --- they gave us a foundation. 

But that foundation must be restored

--- it must be made new through God’s economy

And that is the choice that Jesus presents us with

We can live in the old stories, or we can make new ones.

We can find ourselves in fear of the money stories that have taken hold of our lives --- or we can transform them to create them into a new economy --- God’s economy

The good news is Jesus has told us what to do --- we are not left to our own devices.

Jesus says --- let go of the ways we have known       

--- that no longer work

--- and feed the sheep.

Today I invite you to look deeply --- honestly at your money story --- if you haven’t already.

And as you examine your money story to ask God to help you how best you can feed the sheep.

Today we are inviting you to return your faith promise cards.

          These are not a binding pledge

They are an estimates toward the ways that you hope that God will help shape your money story.

Some of you will exceed your expectations and hopes

          Others will still have growth to do

But until we take the step of challenging ourselves and setting a goal

--- we really can’t examine and grow toward God in our money story.

I can give you all the reasons why it is helpful to the church to set this goal

But I would prefer you to look at your relationship with God and seek how it can help that relationship grow by being intentional in your money story.

You can make your estimate by going to our website which I will post in the chat (https://meridianstreet.org/what-if/estimate-of-giving-card/) or by sending your estimate into the office.

It’s your money story --- how does God fit in it?

I asked you to show me Jesus ---

    How does your money story show me Jesus?