[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 21A: “It’s Not Enough to Talk the Talk; We’ve Got to Walk the Walk”

[Joe Parrish]

-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Sep 30, 2017 7:42 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 21A: “It’s Not Enough to Talk the Talk; We’ve Got to Walk the Walk”



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Two Sons” or “It’sNot Enough to Talk the Talk; We’ve Got to Walk the Walk” and deals with all thelessons.  Here it is: 
 
Did you hear the story of the rich young man who had been taken to thehospital, critically ill. His condition worsened, and he was confined there forquite a few weeks. His doctor even had told him that he wasn’t sure if he’drecover, but that they would continue to do all they could. The man wasobviously scared to death, and said to the doctor, “Please, doctor, doeverything you can! I don’t want to die! I have so much to do yet in life, andif you can help me get better, I’ll even donate $100,000 to the fund for thenew hospital.” Would you believe- right after that, he began to recover.  Several months later, while he was out in thetown, he saw the doctor on the street, and the doctor asked him how he felt.The young man said, “Doc, I haven’t felt better any time in my life.” Thedoctor said, “That’s great, because I wanted to ask you about the money yousaid you intended to donate to the new hospital fund. You remember you said ifyou got well, you’d like to donate $100,000, and we could really use that now.”The young man said, “Man, if I said that, I must have been really sick!”(Anonymous)
 
That young man sounds a lot like the son in the parable Jesustold.  As you recall, a father asked histwo sons to work in the field.  The firstson did exactly what the rich young man in the story did to the doctor.  The son told his father he’d be glad,delighted even, to work in the field. However, as soon as the father turned his back, that son was out ofthere!  The second son said he would notwork in the field, but then felt sorry for what he had said and actually didthe work.  Jesus asked, “Who really lovedthe father more?”  The obvious answer-“The son who helped his father.”  That’sthe message for us.  We can’t simply talkthe talk.  If we really love God, we’vegot to walk the walk.
 
Our Bible lessons suggest two times we need to be especially careful towalk the walk.  Did you notice howquickly the Israelites were ready to blame God and kill Moses when they weresuffering with thirst?  Times of suffering are serious times oftemptation.  It’s so very easy to ask,“God, how could you!” instead of “God, what do you want me to do?” 
 
Our epistle suggests another situation when we need to be especiallycareful to walk the walk.  Paul remindedhis church at Philippi (Philippians 2:2b-4a) “Livein harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as ifyou were only one person.  Don't bejealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important thanyourselves.  Care about them as much asyou care about yourselves.”  I don’t haveto tell you- that’s hard to do; and you know where it’s hardest?  At home with those we love.  When we’re with strangers or acquaintances,we do our best to be polite; but withour families and close friends- if we’re not careful, we simply “let it allhang out.”  We can trick our friends andacquaintances, but our families know the real person- who we really are.  Yet, if we really love God, we’ll do what hesays and love our neighbors (even our families) as much as we love ourselves.
 
I asked a good friend who has been around a LONG time- “As I preach thesermon about walking the walk, do you have any suggestions for us to go alongwith (1) times of suffering and (2) when we are dealing with those we know welland love?”  Here are her three suggestions:
 
 
Sexual     behavior: sex should never be     promiscuous.  Relationships are     sacred, never “one night stands.”  Appropriate     birth control should always be used so babies will not be born into dire     circumstances with no stable parent, or better yet- without two stable     parents.  We are not living in the     time of King Solomon and his many wives.
 
A     consistent walk with Jesus:  We don’t only live his WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE when     it is convenient.  Check out your behavior     when you’re angry, your Sunday attendance patterns, and how you spend your     money for an easy evaluation of this one.
 
Taking     God for granted: purposely     sinning and then telling yourself- “I’m OK.  I’m covered by the Blood.”  No we’re not OK; we’re not “covered by     the Blood” unless we confess our sins and intend to do better (or at least     ask God to help us intend to do better).

 
May God bless us all as we try to walk the walk and not just talk thetalk.
 
For anyone who isinterested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements areposted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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