By John Warren

 

Do you have mother sayings, things your mother said that you remember the rest of your life?

My mom had things like “If you are not going to do it right it is not worth doing”.

Judge Judy Sheindlin had one that is famous, I think she used it for a title of a book, “Don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining.”

In the 24^th Chapter of Matthew Jesus is talking about what it will be like when our time to go to heaven occurs. He does this in a series of parables, stories Jesus told to make a point.

The parable I am speaking of is called The Parable of the Bags of Gold. I think a response the Master makes in this parable several times would make a good mother saying see what you think.

“Well done good and faithful servant.”

I heard several speakers use these words in Senator McCain’s memorial service.

So what does this mean? Well the parable compares the response of three people who were given bags of gold to take care of for the master while he was away on a journey. Upon returning, he came for his gold. He entrusted his wealth with them. When he asked for an accounting of the gold, the first two servants invested the gold and it multiplied but the third servant hid the gold in the ground.

I had one church member who took this parable literally and set aside the amount of money he was going to give for the year and invested it and at the end of the year, gave his money.

We are all given the precious gift of life we can make something of it or we can waste it.

We are given talents and abilities we can develop them for good or we can squander them.

Each life has an accounting day.

John McCain was a dying breed that I wish we could instill in others. If anything is going to happen in Washington we will need people who are willing to actually work together to put the people over party.

I did not always agree with Senator McCain but you had to admire his willingness to reach out to the other side. When someone in captivity and tortured has the opportunity and says no I will wait my turn, doesn’t demand our respect, he has earned it.

“Well done good and faithful servant.”

 

John Warren is Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church, 502 North 6^th Street in Orange.