Sermon On A Pot Of Gold

Ziad K. Abdelnour, a Lebanese-born American financier and author once remarked: “Don't turn around. Don't look back. Keep moving forward. Keep pushing. The pot of gold is at the end of the rainbow, not the beginning.” Matthew 6:21 confirms: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

A Pot of Gold is defined as a large amount of money, especially one that appears unattainable or illusory. It could assimilate to the feat of one’s hopes and dreams through persistent effort or perhaps, elements of risk. It often includes the success, fulfillment or happiness gleaned from what may be deemed as a virtually impossible venture.

A true story is told that: Several years ago, an 85-year-old man by the name of Forest Fenn, reputedly buried a box of treasure worth an estimated $5 million. It allegedly contained several artifacts, items of jewelry and gold. The treasure was placed into a bronze chest and buried somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Forest Fenn then composed a cryptic poem called “The Thrill Of The Chase,” in which he revealed clues as to the box’s whereabouts. The poem included the perplexing words: “It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago.”

This chronicle, for most, was deemed as an impossible challenge that was unlikely to be accomplished. Many are believed to have searched for the treasure in vain, some at the considerable cost of their own life, but eventually, an intelligent prospector discovered it in June 2020. It is reported that he, understandably, chose to remain nameless.

Matthew 25:14-28 narrates a similar challenge in the “Parable of the Bags of Gold.” This exemplum concerns a man who entrusts his servants with his wealth to ascertain what possibilities of growth may be accrued to it in their hands. It is essentially about wise stewardship. It states:

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.”

There are several interpretations as to the purposeful message of this story. One theory concerns the disciples’ stewardship and responsibility entrusted by Jesus. So, how did Jesus hope that we would explicate and utilize His meaningful words? It has been said that one must speculate to accumulate. Without this notion, worth or achievement will never be enhanced or gained. We need to constantly move forward to reach the ultimate reward or satisfaction in life. This may require a significant risk, as all new ventures entail, however, with God’s careful guidance, success can be achieved. Just as the master about to go on his journey entrusted his gold to three servants by gift, so we should also utilize, to the fullest effect, the gifts that we have been given by God. All gifts bestowed by God are for a definitive purpose in life, often for the benefit of others.