Narrative Lectionary Reflection for October 5, 2014
Reading: Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17
Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine…” Exodus 19:5
The Ten Commandments are at the very core of our religious experience in North America. Most people can conjure up an image in their heads of two stone tablets with important words on them, but not too many of us can name them all. Even so, they bedeck our public spaces, are the center of controversy about said bedecking, and are simultaneously lifted up when needed and ignored the rest of the time.
I don’t mean to sound cynical or flip; however, it never fails to bemuse AND amuse me that we put so much energy into parsing these passages and accepting or denying their applicability to various life scenarios, as well as rehashing and rearranging all of the cultural and religious baggage and nostalgia to which we assign them. Whew! It can make a body tired just thinking about it. Is there anything really new and fresh that can be said about these ten words for those of us preaching and/or teaching this week?
One should certainly hope so. Of course, the answer is a resounding yes. Scripture is a living, breathing thing–not just static words on a page. It’s constantly revealing new layers and 
nuances that guide and inform our life and discipleship practices. Besides that, we need to hear the basics repeatedly. We need to be reminded, shaped, and molded by the basic tenets of our faith.
For me, that fresh look comes through the lens of stewardship, for every one of the commandment has something to say about how to live as a faithful steward of all that God provides, most importantly stewardship of relationships. So here’s a few thoughts to us started:
1. You must not have other gods. Being a faithful steward implies knowing what is central and what is not. If one constantly examines one’s relationship in term of whether the God of the Cosmos is front and center, a lot of what one needs for faithful stewardship will follow.
2. You must not misuse your God’s name. Words matter. We are called to be good stewards of our words, including how we speak about God. And, how we speak in general also says quite a bit about our relationship with God.
3. You must keep the Sabbath holy. Good stewardship involves taking care of one’s body and relationships. The Sabbath was created for us to honor God and to honor the fact that God has created all things good. When we fail to value this gift, we fail to be faithful stewards.
4. You must honor your father and mother. Again, good stewards take care of relationships. What we value says a lot about us. Valuing those who gave us life, who nourished us, and whose love sustains us is good stewardship. For those whose relationship with parents is not one of mutual respect and care, it is good to remember the intent of this command. If the parents are good stewards of God’s commands, then the children will be valued. Faithful stewardship of relationships can go a long way toward restoration and a better life for future generations.
5. You must not kill. Aside from the obvious, Luther interpreted this commandment as instructing us to build our neighbor up and care for our neighbor and his or her wellbeing–another instruction with emphasis on relationships. That definitely has a ring of stewardship to it.
6. You must not commit adultery. Again, this command is about stewardship of one’s relationships, particularly one’s covenanted relationship with husband or wife. We are to do no harm to the other and to build each other up.
7. You must not steal. As good stewards, we are to care for that with which we are entrusted, and we are not to take from our neighbor. For me this means caring for the environment as well. To not do is tantamount to stealing the earth’s goodness from future generations; indeed, we steal from our own children and our children’s children.
8. You must not tell lies about your neighbor. Once again we find an emphasis on stewardship of relationships. We are not just to avoid lies, according to Luther, but we are to work for the good of our neighbor and speak well of one another. Doing so creates a more positive and productive environment for all.
9. You must not desire your neighbor’s house. As faithful stewards we are to live from a perspective of abundance. After all, that’s the way God operates. There is enough for all if we but care for one another and seek good for all of God’s children. This means we must work against a culture that encourages us to hoard, collect, and amass more than we need or can use.
10. You must not desire your neighbor’s wife, servant, maid, animals, or anything that belongs to him. Or her! Ditto here. If we take care of number nine, it’s a whole lot easier to be a steward when it comes to this final commandment. There is enough for everyone. God provides. We are the stewards, meaning it’s up to us to share, to work for one another’s best interests and good, and to make this world a decent place for all that God made.
Yes, the commandments are a tall order, and no one can keep them perfectly–or really even mostly. We all fail, but thankfully God, the creator of all that was, is, and will be, desires good for the created order. We are precious in God’s sight. So yes, in the end, even these commands for right living are about stewardship.
Dear friends, if you’re not talking regularly about stewardship of all creation and of every aspect of life, you are missing the boat. Even if you’re working on stewardship from a perspective of an annual commitment Sunday focusing primarily on money (yes, even if you are looking at time and talents, too), then you’re still not getting the proverbial boat out of the harbor. Stewardship touches every aspect of life, just like these commandments do. These are words we must speak, and speak regularly.
In Worship
“Indeed the whole earth is mine,” says God. In the northern hemisphere we are in the time of harvest, so it is easy to see abundance. Even so, amidst the abundance we are made aware of the natural cycle of life and death as the earth prepares for a fallow season. On this Sunday, how can we celebrate the commandments as gifts to be planted in our hearts, tended and cultivated, and harvested in our right relationships and stewardship of all creation? Consider singing a hymn or two of thanksgiving (“Let All Things Now Living,” or “This is my Father’s World,” or most appropriately for this weekend “All Creatures, Worship God Most High”–as St. Francis’ feast day is 10/4). Make sure your prayers include stewardship petitions.
With Youth
Because of the recent climate march in New York and the proximity of the celebration of St. Francis, this would be a good time to consider stewardship of creation in light of the commandments. Whether you are working with youth in a confirmation or Christian education class, or in a youth group context, spend some time discussing what it means to be stewards of creation. Check out Blessed Earth, Lutherans Restoring Creation, the Episcopal Ecological Network, and GreenFaith to get started. Be sure to check your own denomination’s resources, as well, if not listed here.
With Children
St. Francis, whose witness we celebrate this weekend, had a special affinity for God’s creation. Why not talk with children this weekend about Francis. If you are having an animal blessing you can relate your comments to that event. If not, you can share with children why some people have such a blessing. Perhaps you can give them an order of blessing–simplified–to take home for blessing their own pets with their parents, grandparents, or other adults. Tell them that God’s commandments teach us to be good stewards of all creation, including taking good care of our pets and creation. For more information about blessing of the animals check this website. For an good article about St. Francis, check this article from The New Yorker.
Photos: Joel Kramer, Kevin Dooley, and John Taylor, Creative Commons. Thanks!
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