The Rev. Carol S. Wedell
September 30, 2007

We've all seen them - popping up like rabbits.  Multiplying before our very eyes.  No - I'm not talking about the local deer population!  "For sale" signs are everywhere.  I've taken to counting them as I drive around.  One website indicated 82 homes for sale in Pepper Pike alone - and that wasn't a complete multiple listing, to be sure.  With mortgage companies going under daily and housing values on the way down, the old advice that you could never lose investing in real estate seems a bit shaky at the moment. 

For those who purchased homes with less than stellar credit - perhaps with variable rates or large balloon payments, the realities have been harsh:  huge numbers of homes are in foreclosure, with individuals and families no longer having a place to live.  For too many, the future looks bleak.

Those whose relative wealth has safeguarded them from the declining housing market may face anxiety about  investments in general.  Now more than ever we are directed toward a sophisticated model of investing - diversify, avoid underperforming assets, maximize return.

Yet all of us have resources - whether money, time, ability, or creativity.  And we are faced with decisions every day about how we will invest those resources.  Those investment choices extend far beyond whether we'll buy a house or put money in the stock market or purchase a CD at a local bank.  Investing comes in many forms.

This morning's reading from the prophet Jeremiah offers some surprising suggestions regarding an "investment strategy."  The economic situation for Jeremiah and his fellow Jews looks far worse than our current situation.  Jerusalem is under attack by the Babylonian army.  It is only a matter of time before the first-class citizens will be hauled away into exile.  The people of Judah, having put their hope in a last-minute rescue from Egypt, are beginning to see the writing on the wall.  Egypt will not be saving them.

Soon everything that Jeremiah has prophesied will come true - Jerusalem held captive, the Temple destroyed, the Hebrew people taken from their country.  Truly, Jeremiah lived during one of the most terrifying periods in the history of the Jewish people in biblical times.  To top it all off, Jeremiah has been thrown in jail - probably to keep him from demoralizing the people any further. After all, up to this point Jeremiah has been busy berating the people and their actions up to this point - telling them how bad the future appears for them.   It would seem that Jeremiah is under a kind of "house arrest," enabling him to have some communication with the outside world.

While Jeremiah is in prison he is visited by a cousin - Hanamel.  Hanamel is in debt and is desperate to leave town.  So he offers to sell Jeremiah a piece of property in Anathoth.  In Jewish law, there were very specific details about how property was exchanged. The book of Leviticus spells it out word for word.  The bottom line was that it was very important to keep the land in the family.  So if one family member was unable to hang on to the property, the goal was to sell it to another family member.  Apparently, Jeremiah is "next in line" for this prime piece of real estate.

Well, prime, may not exactly be the right word.  In very short order all of the land would be held by Babylon - and they wouldn't be particularly concerned about whose name was on the deed.  In other words, the property would be totally worthless.

Yet Jeremiah makes an investment decision. From a pragmatic point of view, it's not very wise.  He not only purchases the plot of land in Anathoth, he pays full price!  You would think he could have negotiated a better deal than that.  But then again, you would think he would have passed this offer up all together.

There is no financial advisor on the face of this earth that would have supported this decision.  It's beyond foolish.  Jeremiah will never see a return on this investment - much less a "maximized" return!  He'll never get to live on this land or use it for farming or anything else useful.  It's in an army occupied territory! He might as well have thrown his money out the window.

But he doesn't.  No, with all of the proper number of witnesses, following Jewish law to the letter, Jeremiah buys this piece of land.  In fact, it is probably the most detailed business transaction we have recorded in scripture!  In a totally public forum, Jeremiah invests in the future.  When all of the intricate paper work has been filled out, he calls for his friend, Baruch, to put the deed in a special jar, which is meant to last a very long time.

Now if you remember anything about Jeremiah, you'll know that he wasn't exactly an optimist.  He did not see the world through rose-colored glasses.  No, he preached gloom and doom more than anything else.  But now, right when he could have been gloating and saying, "I told you so!" he shifts gears.  Following God's guidance, he makes an investment decision that looks entirely ridiculous.  Why?  Why on earth would he do such a thing?

Well, the question might better be put - why in God's name would he do such a thing?  And therein would be the answer.  Jeremiah was investing in a future that was promised by God.  To be sure, Jeremiah did not envision God stepping in and somehow magically stopping the destruction.  No, Jeremiah put that purchase agreement in a very secure jar, knowing full well that it would be likely be a long time before it would be any good. 

But Jeremiah trusted that ultimately God's future would prevail.  That's what he invested in - not in property, but in faith.

What's particularly noteworthy to me is that Jeremiah was not a young man when he made this remarkable investment.  Jeremiah purchased this land, knowing that it was extremely unlikely he would still be alive when God's promise would be fulfilled and the land was finally returned to the Hebrew people.  Jeremiah wasn't investing in his own future - but in God's future and the future of God's people.  This wasn't an investment aimed at personal gain.  It was an investment of hope - for those who would come after him.

Even more important for us this morning, I think, is while this was an investment in the future, it was decidedly an investment that was intended to make a difference in this world - not the next.  Jeremiah doesn't just spout words, he demonstrates with his actions - and his wallet - where his hope lies.  Jeremiah wanted to draw people closer to God - here and now - in this world. So in what has been described as an act of defiant hope, he buys the plot of land.  When he does that he shows the Hebrew people that the world as they know it now is not the end of the story.  God has more to say on the matter!

Our reading from Jeremiah shows us two different approaches to the descending crisis.  Besides Jeremiah, there is also Hanamel.  Hanamel -- who sees those approaching armies and can't wait to dump his worthless property.   Hanamel -- who may have had totally appropriate reasons for wanting to leave town - and wants out now.  Hanamel  -- who did not invest in the future -but simply fled. Hanamel lived out of fear, not hope.  If we're honest, we can appreciate why Hanamel sold the land.

Here's where the prophetic action of Jeremiah speaks so strongly to me.  In the middle of a truly hopeless situation, even with these hard-headed folks who had ignored him for years, Jeremiah demonstrated hope.  He invested in God's future - with his words and his actions - including his pocketbook.  Jeremiah chose to believe that God would be faithful to God's promises.  Jeremiah put time, talent and treasure on the line even when it appeared to make no sense whatsoever.  Jeremiah saw beyond himself to a future that God intended to start building - right now. 

One of my online colleagues told this week of her congregation.  Following a very rocky relationship with a pastor, when over a third of the congregation had left, when their very survival was on the line, this church decided to spend $250,000 on an organ.  From many points of view, it didn't look logical at all. Many thought it was terribly foolish.  In the middle of a rough transition, with the future totally uncertain, spending a huge amount of money on an instrument many churches are ceasing to use, does this make sense?  Yet the congregation was convinced that they would be able to sing God's praises better through the rough times with a new organ.  The organ is now paid for and things are going well.  This foolish act of hope and faith in God paid off.  (Susan Quinn Bryan, Midrash, Sept 27, 2007).

Are you and I willing to invest in God's future? I've certainly seen some inspiring examples of that kind of potent investment!  A chairperson of a refurbishment committee who has celebrated her 80^th birthday - she's not doing this for herself!  A busy young father who faithfully makes it to choir practice week in and week out.   Two newer members who meet with me weekly to pray that we would know God's leading for our future. 

Such investments can be made by people of any age.  Another colleague wrote about a 10 year old girl in her congregation who made an investment that would appear to offer her no "return."  Contrasted with the "gimme" culture, this 10 year old made a different choice. Her parents were an older couple - living on modest means.  But they were active in the life of the church, faithful workers, strong in giving.  Their daughter, Miles, was planning a party for her 10^th birthday. Miles' birthday was a couple of weeks before Christmas, but she wanted a garden tea party. She asked permission to use one of the Sunday School rooms, which had been painted to look like a garden. Miles invited ten children to her party at the church. And she included in her invitation the following request: "Please do not give me any presents. I really have everything I need, and Christmas is coming, and I know I will get a lot of gifts. Please bring a gift for our church's collection of Christmas gifts for needy children." Miles' birthday gifts were ten gifts -- for other children. (Christian Berry, Midrash, September 2007)

Choosing to be present and active in the church in the 21^st century is an investment many would call foolish.  But if we believe that God has a different future in mind - and that we are called to be part of it - that so-called foolish investment may be the most important one we'll ever make.

There are a million ways to invest in God's future - and all of them will make an impact here and now.  Some of them may seem as far fetched as Jeremiah buying that field.  Others may be quite a bit simpler - but every bit as important.  It could be as "crazy" as giving up a week of vacation to help rebuild homes in New Orleans.  We are looking for such a "crazy" team for next June!  It could be as simple as volunteering to help in the nursery - do we doubt that our future is there?  

It could be pledging money or time or both to our Carefully Wrought Renovations campaign - so that all of our building may function well in the future.  You could remember to bring food for the Hunger Bus the first Sunday of every month - knowing that cans of food will never "fix" the problem of hunger, but also knowing that men, women and children will be fed because of that simple act. 

It could be as "foolish" as choosing to invest part of your monetary assets with the Presbyterian Investment and Loan program, so that your money could be put to use building churches while you earn interest comparable to going market rates. You could nominate yourself to be an elder or deacon - a striking act of hope that God will use the imperfect people that comprise the church to work for the world as God would have it.  You could make church a top priority, coming to church school or youth group, joining the choir, finding places to grow in faith and serve God's world.

Jeremiah made a bold investment in the future.  May God give us the courage to do the same!