Grace Lutheran Church

+ In Nomine Jesu +
The Rev. Evan Gaertner
Proper 13A
August 3, 2008
Isaiah 55:1-5
“My One Thing”

Isaiah asks the question, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”

Words are created all the time to describe new phenomena and recently a new word was developed to explain a sickness causing discontent. Affluenza is said to be a helpful explanation for a sickness that is taking place in America. Influenza is the virus that leads to the winter flue we so much want to avoid. Affluenza is not a biological virus but a sociological virus, nevertheless it is apparently pretty dangerous. The longing for comfort and contentment is present in our lives. When people look for spiritual enlightenment, they are not seeking struggle and disappointment. No doubt we want to find peace. The question becomes, “How do we know we have found the peace, the success, the enlightenment that defines the end?”

Affluenza is the altering of the measuring stick of success with its unit of measurement becoming the attainment of stuff I can show off. It gets to the point that our sense of identity and what is necessary to maintain who we are gets distorted. As dreams and promises are built on credit and credit becomes harder to maintain the spiraling down becomes fast and frustrating.

“Can I live without my cell phone, TV, computer, car…?”

The question of what is necessary for my life… cell phone, tv, computer, car, .. is not that different from the question that Isaiah brings up. Isaiah’s question is nearly three thousand years old but still valid today, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”

This question is very similar to the one asked by the angels to the women that came to the tomb looking for the dead body of Jesus, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

The women went to the tomb looking for Jesus to be still dead and buried. They certainly wanted to respect his body by completing the placement of oils and perfumes but they did not understand the fullness of what Jesus came for.

Jesus did not come to be just observed and remembered as a special person who said nice things. Jesus came to be the one thing that we needed that transforms all other things. Jesus is the one thing that bridges the gap between us and God. This gap that exists because of our sin is too massive for us to reach across. We all sin and we all need a savior who can reach into our sin and death and bring us into his life.

But even as Jesus reaches into our lives to offer us that which satisfies the hungry heart, we continue to look for our answers in that which does not satisfy.

People respect Jesus, when people hear that I am a pastor they express respect for the work that I do, but that respect does not transfer to trusting the message of salvation by Christ alone through faith alone that I desire to share. I think people have a hard time trusting that the life that thrives is one that is built on Jesus Christ, the self-sacrificing messiah that dies on a cross a long time ago and rose again from the dead. There must be more, something tangible, something that I can measure against my neighbor, that I can put on my resume of success. Will I thrive with this, can I thrive without this?

It seems to me that for some they perceive that Jesus is not the one thing that satisfies, but an add-on to their life that they use on a as needed basis. But does Jesus really desire to be your backup plan?

Isaiah gives us this invitation from the Lord, “Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.”

Come to Jesus and incline your ear to his promises and you find the one thing that brings peace.

The disciples came to Jesus after a long day of him sharing good news to a crowd and said, “You need to send them away so that they can buy something to eat for dinner.” Jesus told the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” But they considered what they had and thought it impossible. But Jesus told them to bring forward the fives loaves and two fish. Jesus was able to transform what they had given up on and make it into a blessing for the crowd.

Jesus is able to be my one thing because he alone is the one that is able to transform death and bring eternal life. Nothing that I can surround myself with in this world can accomplish what Jesus desires to give me. Jesus desires to give life. Jesus takes that which we would give up and discount and actually sneer at and works by his mercy blessing. He took those loaves and fish and made a feast. He took that cross, that instrument of suffering and shame and brings glory. The women went to the tomb expecting Jesus to be dead, but Jesus transformed our graves and brings life.

But this life that Jesus brings is not an add-on to my wildly successful life. By repentance I put to death that sinful self and by the promise of God’s Word I emerge from the water of baptism a new creature. Jesus brings a new life, defined by a different measuring stick, His mercy not my works

Without hearing Jesus there is no life. Without Jesus being the one thing that is necessary for us to hear with our ears and speak with our lips we will not know the satisfaction that he brings. Jesus promises in the Gospel of Mark, “All who believe and are baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (MK 16:16).

I want you to consider your own life and what you have valued as the one thing that is necessary. What is your one thing? Believing in Jesus does not mean giving up on everything else. But it means that Jesus takes all that other stuff and changes their purpose. Instead of surrounding myself with stuff to make me happy and look important, God blesses my life with opportunities to shine his mercy into a world of darkness.

The one thing that is Jesus takes all your things gives them suddenly a different importance and purpose. You are a part of the kingdom building work of God.

By the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ I invite you to believe that God desires to work through you to be a blessing to others. As you live in Christ and share that life with others you will find that Christ’s mercy flows.

Soli Deo Gloria