Reflections on "Gifts YOu Can't Buy at the Store: Talent" Deuteronomy 34: 5-12

This is the full text of what I preached at the Chapel service yesterday.  The Sanctuary service had lots of special music, so my reflections in that service were basically and abbreviated Move 1 and Move 3.  I had intended on using "The Juggler" in the Sanctuary service, but the illustration of giving the gift of clothes worked better in the Chapel service, so I stuck with it during the Sanctuary service.

It is sort of an interesting exercise to think about taking the full sermon and reducing it to two short reflections.  One thing that got cut that probably should have made it was the mention of Moses.  I dislike it when the sermon does not seem to include the read text, and at the Sanctuary service that is what happened.

I will not have thoughts on the Christmas Eve sermon, but I will post it later.

“Gifts You Can't Buy at the Store: Talent” ^4th Sunday in Advent; FPC, Troy; Deuteronomy 34: 5-12;

Introduction: I went shopping yesterday, or at least I arrived at a parking lot of a department store, got one of the last parking spot far away from the front door, went in and saw the check-out line about 30 people deep, and decided I needed to pay more attention to my sermons and move on to gifts I can't buy at the store!

This week, we think about talent.

Perhaps in the sanctuary service, when we have the musical talents of the choir and the jazz quartet on display, this theme makes more sense.

But think about the talents you have; look around at the people you know sitting around you; think about friends and family; reflect on the gifts they have, those abilities that they have, those talents that when asked where we got or developed that talent we quickly respond, “they are a gift from God.”

they are indeed a gift from God.

Move 1: God gives us these these talents, these tangible gifts.

a. You can see them (or hear it).

b. Each of us has unique talents.

1. Deuteronomy reminds us that at different times, different people with their gifts are needed.
2. Moses – the ability to confront Pharaoh and lead God's people into the Wilderness.
3. He negotiated with God.
4. The Israelites may not have always appreciated Moses' talents, but he held them together; he led them through a difficult time.
   c. Joshua will be the one who uses his skills when the enter the Promised Land.
   1. One of the spies.
   2. Stood firm in his belief that Israel could succeed in the Promised Land.
   3. Different gifts than Moses.
   d. Jazz band
   1. Different instruments.
   2. Take the lead at different time.

2. unique gifts

500. Christmas story

1. Zechariah – religious

2. Shepherds

3. Wise men

4. Different backgrounds; different talents

5. All impacted by the birth of Christ.

Move 2: give to the glory of God.

a. God gives us our talents.

b. Use them to give back to God.

c. The Juggler

Many centuries ago, as written by Anatole France, there lived a man by the name of Barnaby. He was a juggler who lived from day to day on the small donations he received. He went from town to town and he would take knives or balls and juggle them.

that was all that he could do. He felt embarrassed over his lack of talent. He almost felt totally useless. People in the town in which he juggled would be involved in their business work. Some would run small little shops. Some were doctors and teachers. And Barnaby would see all these people working every day and be more discouraged with each passing day.

One day on his travels he was passing a huge monastery and he started to think and pray. Maybe, if they let me enter this monastery I can do the most menial tasks, do something positive and save my soul and have more meaning and happiness in my life.

He knocked on the monastery door and was greeted by the brother who was in charge of all the monastic duties. Barnaby told him he would perform the most menial tasks for just a place to sleep and a little something to eat. He was admitted and was given a small place in which to live and told when meal time was to happen. He did this for months and seemed to find more meaning and happiness to his life. But then his sense of meaning and happiness started to lessen. He knew all around him that the brothers of the monastery were preparing for Christmas. One brother was writing a new musical score for the midnight Mass. Anther brother was making special bread to be given to the poor on Christmas Day. Another brother was making a beautiful Christmas crib for the birth of the Christ Child. They were busily preparing for the Feast of the Nativity.

Barnaby, in seeing what was done by others so talented, felt more inadequate than ever. His sense of his own inferiority became more painful than ever. Christmas was coming closer. And what was he doing but the most menial jobs in the monastery. He went to bed each night heartbroken.

Tradition had it that if the statue of the Virgin Mary were pleased with the gifts given to her in honor of the Christ-child, she would shed a tear of compassion for humanity.

That year when the gifts were presented a at the Feast of the Nativity, the statue did not respond.

Barnaby was so upset that he snuck into the Chapel that night. He had nothing to do or offer but juggle. And so he did. He stood in front of the statue of Our Blessed Mother and gave her the only talent he had, the art of juggling. At that moment something extraordinary happened.

IN that moment, To make a long story short, the statue of the Virgin Mary shed a tear -- and the baby Jesus in her arms smiled.

Move 3: Share your talents.

a. Lots of clothes are given as gifts in our house.

1. Display it when it's bought.
2. Wrap it and give it.
3. Try it one after you open it.
4. Wear it out and then talk about it when you get home.
5. The gift is very public, shared again and again.
   c. light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine”

1. “Hide it under a bushel?” “NO! I”m gonna let it shine.”
2. God has given you the gift of talent.
3. Use it.
4. Share it.

c. Here is the quote by Erma Bombeck:  "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say ' I used everything you gave me' " A member shared this quote at the 11/11 Session meeting. It had been on a cross at the church that hosted a PDA camp in TX.

Conclusion: If you're counting, Two shopping days left. You have a countless number of days to share and use the gift of talent that God has given to you.