I’m posting this because (a) Lauren said that I have to write the post, (b) because this is already written and (c) because Sam expressed the slightest bit of interest in it while we went about our 8 hour shopping trip to Lincoln.
Every few months I help with the worship services at our local nursing home, so I have to write a little “sermon.” It’s suppose to be about 5 minutes long because who would want to listen to me for longer than 5 minutes anyway? I don’t know if they ask the other people who help to keep theirs under 5 minutes as well, and, at this point, I’m afraid to ask.
Every time I do this I ask Lauren to time me, and every time (21 times or so) she forgets to. Well every time except last time. Here is the Parable of the Rummage Sale in all its 8 minutes of glory. I vaguely recall that there’s a sentence that doesn’t make sense about 2/3 of the way through. I would find it and fix it, but I don’t have 6 minutes to spare right now[hr]
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]’d like to tell you a parable this morning. This is my first parable, so you’ll have to bear with me. I’d be the first to admit that it’s not a very good parable. If you’re after a good parable, I have a lot that I could recommend. The Parable of the wise and foolish builder is a good one. The Parable of the lost sheep. The prodigal son, The good Samaritan.
All of these are good parables, and I mention them, not because this parable you are about to hear is like them. And certainly not to get your hopes up. But just to let you know that I know a good parable when I hear one, and this one isn’t in the same league.
I call it the Parable of the Garage Sale, but I’m thinking about changing the name.
Did you ever have a garage sale? Until last week, I had never been involved with a garage sale. I had been to many, many garage sales. My mom loved to go to garage sales. She still does.
She and my dad drove 7 hours to come visit us a few weeks ago, and my mom managed to squeeze in 4 garage sales while she was here.
But we never had a garage sale while I was growing up. We went to a lot of them, but we never had one of our own. I want you to stop and think over the implications of that for a moment. We went to a lot of garage sales, but we never had one. Now you know everything you need to know about the state of my parents basement.
So, until last week all of my garage sale experiences had been on the receiving end. I’d never helped hold a garage sale, and, let me tell you, it is a lot of work getting ready for one.
There’s only one other thing we need to talk about before I can tell you about the only garage sale I’ve helped with.
We need to talk about the name. Where I grew up in the foot hills of Ozarks, we didn’t call them Garage Sales. We called them Rummage Sales. I never thought about it when I was growing up. That was just what we called them. But now I think I know why. There was, in fact, a lot of rummaging involved in this sale. Both in getting ready for the Rummage Sale, and by people who came to the Rummage Sale.
So, I’m thinking of changing the name of the parable from The Parable of the Garage Sale to The Parable of the Rummage Sale. We weren’t actually in a garage anyway.
Did any of you know the Marxhausens? Dorris & Reinhold? Their children donated the Marxhausen house to Concordia University and the plan is to build a new Liturgical Arts Center building there one day.
They donated the remaining contents of the house and of professor Marxhausen’s studio to help build Saint John’s new Child Development Center where my wife works. And so, the very first Garage Sale, I mean Rummage Sale, that I was ever involved with was helping sell the amazing items and the amazing number of items from the Marxhausens.
It took hours to move things. It took hours and hours to organize things. I said, “wow, what is that?” more times than I can count.
But none of that is relevant to the Parable of the Rummage sale. It’s just a little background that you need to know to understand the Parable of the Rummage Sale.
Here’s the Parable of the Rummage Sale. Are you ready? It’s on the next page.
The kingdom of heaven is like a Rummage Sale. Many come to the rummage sale for it has been well advertised in advance. Some come seeking a specific treasure and some come to rummage. Some come seeking a bargain and some come willing to pay any price. Some come looking for set prices and some come looking to haggle. Some come because they have seen the advertising. Some come because they have seen the signs. Some come because their friends told them about the Rummage Sale.
There it is. That was the Parable of the Rummage sale. What did you think? Well, what did you expect? I told you it wasn’t a very good parable. You’re probably thinking that I shouldn’t quit job and start writing parable full time. And even if I was better at it, there’s not too much demand for parables these day. At least not for new ones.
But there was usually a second bit to parables. After Jesus told a parable, he would explain it to His Disciples. He wouldn’t necessarily explain it to everyone who heard the parable. He explains why that is in Matthew 13. It’s interesting, and you should go read it sometime.
As you all seem to be disciples of Jesus as well, let me explain the Parable of the Rummage Sale to you.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a Rummage Sale. The Rummage Sale has been well advertised in advance. The prophets for-told it, and you have had many people tell you about it. Your parents, your Sunday-school teachers, your pastors and other. You’ve read about it in the scriptures. You’ve listened to others sing about it and you’ve sang about it in your own voice.
The ones who seek a specific treasure at the rummage sale are the ones who have been paying attention. They seek to know Jesus. They seek the salvation, peace and joy that only He can offer.
The ones who come to rummage feel that there is something at the rummage sale for them. They might not know what it is, but they can tell that those at the rummage sale have something that they need too.
Those who come to the rummage sale seeking a bargain will be disappointed. Everything at the rummage sale come at a great price. Someone has to die for it. But the good news is that someone has died for it. And he didn’t die so that they could have the treasure. He didn’t even need the treasure. He died to give it freely to you and to me. (okay, so I guess it is a bargain, but I warned you that it wasn’t a very good parable).
Those willing to pay any price for their treasure will be surprised as well. The price has been paid. The treasure is free.
Those who come to the rummage sale looking for a set price will find that the price is set, but not the price they were expecting. For them as well the treasure is free. The only thing expected is loving obedience to the one who paid the price for them.
Those who come looking to haggle will be disappointed. There is no bargaining or pleading. If you can not accept the treasure at the arranged terms, you can not have the treasure. The price has been set and if you must bargain, you must leave.
Those who came to the Rummage Sale because they have seen the advertising are those who have read the scriptures.
Those who come because they have seen the signs have marveled at nature and looked for the creator.
Those who have come because their friends told them about the rummage sale are those that you have told. If you haven’t told anyone, what are you waiting for?