Financial Sunday II

Sunday was the second Sunday in a row for financial sermons at both churches.  Coincidence?  I don't know.
At VCH in the morning HF spoke on being responsible with your money.  He is a former banker so he knows a lot about debt.  He used Proverbs to illustrate points about basic money management.  He stressed controlling debt and spoke a little on savings.  A key point was never co-sign for a friend.  People need to be forwarded and forearmed before that friend or relative comes begging.  If you do it once you probably learn.  But it is best to never do it at all.  Perhaps a corollary point: Parents are no obligated to support their children after they are grown.  As he would likely say, that approaches meddling.  I know one couple that has a weakness for helping their 40 year old children.  One needs to go into that with your eyes wide open.  Nevertheless we do need to let our kids get out of their own problems, if they absolutely can.  And they usually can, it just might be painful.  We hate to see our kids go through things like this.  But they must learn, just like we did.
In the evening at SJD it was Loyalty Sunday, the day people are supposed to turn in their pledge cards and get them blessed.  Last week they prepared us for it, another financial Sunday.  Last week was "Fork it over Sunday" as a priest friend of mine once said. That is the  Sunday when giving to the church is stressed.  Some priests apologize for having to do this.  Last week the rector was subtle but not apologetic.  This week JD used the lectionary to make some points.  Amos prophesied against a wealthy people who were ruthless against the weak and the poor, taking advantage of them and refusing to help them in time of need.  She linked this to giving.  I cannot remember how.
The gospel was the story of the rich young ruler.  She spoke of the man's confidence in his ability.  Money, or his salary played a large role in his confidence.  Money can get in the way.  Jesus saw that it got in the way of the man and his soul.  How are we to react to that?  Are we to give all our money away?  Or is this hyperbole like the earlier preaching about ripping out your eye if it caused you to sin?  Some tradition has it that this man later did give all his money away and followed Jesus.  But that is romantic dross.  The point is to put God before money.  Use it to serve God and not to serve ourselves.  And remember money can never save your eternal soul.