The ROI Principle Applied

The R.O.I. Principle… Applied
Matt. 18:15-20
9/4

† In the Name of Jesus †

Grace and peace be yours, from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
Because, we are going to need it…..

You may be wondering about this R.O.I principle that sits predominantly, in the title of this sermon. R.O.I. is not a theological term at all, but instead is business term, one used in analysis that leads to major decisions. It stands for “return on investment.” It compares what you would need to invest in a product, or a service, or even a location, or even a new employee, against what the potential profit return. Simply put, the greater the R.O.I., the better. Probably one of the better-known examples of R.O.I. was an investment of $50,000 back in the early 1980’s. Then, a small company in Seattle, bought from another company a software program called QDos, and renamed it MS-DOS. Microsoft owes its billions of dollars, to that simple purchase. The two leaders in home and school computers at the time, Tandy and Apple, turned down opportunities to purchase that software, and since have been effectively removed from any significant role in the computer industry.

Projecting ROI is, at best, an inexact art, simply because of a variable, and uncontrollable factor, known as “risk”. Usually, the greater the risk, the greater is the potential R.O.I; the question is, can the business or organization afford the risk? No greater place is that risk felt, than when it comes to “human resources”. Should I invest more time and money in a fairly radical dreamer to run the company, or do I stay with a proven person, who will keep things stable, but not necessarily growing? If I go with the dreamer, how many mistakes can I allow him, without risking the future of the organization?

Most of us, tend to be conservative in such decisions, tending to go with what we know, and are sure of, rather than try something new and radical. We even see this in our choices at restaurants and meals. Do I have my age old sweet and sour chicken and broccoli beef, or do I try the possibly incredible tasting drunken prawn and the crab and cream cheese filled wontons? It helps if we have someone who can vouch for the new item. The return on investment, in the case of your order at the Chinese restaurant, could be the most incredible dish you ever tasted, or it could be…well – horrific.

Today’s Gospel Reading, talks bout a potential investment we can make, in people. One with a interesting investment, with some risk, but with a payoff beyond belief. If we need someone to vouch for the investment, we can turn to Luther, for of the 54 volumes that contain his writings, 34 of the volumes contain 117 articles, letters and sermons based on this little passage. Abuses of this passage, he railed against, but not as much, as those who would refuse to invest, because of the risk.

The Investment
The Concept
The risk
The Ezekiel Passage
Transistion - A poor investment –

So, let us examine this passage’s directives, in view of the possible Return of Investment.

15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

The investment here, seems to come in three stages, each possibly resulting in the Return on the investment. The first investment, comes in the form of a conversation. A bit of time, perhaps some emotional discomfort, as you approach a person, whose relationship with you, can best be described as broken. Perhaps it was a lie told about you, or in the heat of competition, a slipped word they called you – which stung viciously. Perhaps it was a betrayal, a lack of respect, or a promise unkept. It does not matter, somehow, they missed the mark, they hurt you. The conversation is at once, both incredibly simple, and quite, intimidating.

Simple in that, all you do is identify the pain, the hurt, the infraction, and your desire, to restore the relationship that was damaged. It is intimidating, because in the effort, you must admit that you were hurt, and that you value that person more than the hurt they caused. It calls for vulnerability, a vulnerability and an openness, that the Bible says, may be ignored, or refused.

The next level of investment, puts a little more into it. Take a pastor or an elder or two with you, so that they may assist in the resolution of the matter. Again, the investment is given towards a specific resolution, and it would be hoped, that this level of investment, would result in the pay-off. But again, the investment is easier said than done. Indeed, there are times, where the “return” won’t even be seen at this level, and the cost and risk may need to rise to its highest level.

17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

At this point, the entire church gets involved in the resolution process. The community of faith is brought in, not to scandalize the person, nor to punish them, but as Luther said, but to lead him or her to repentance and faith; and prevent him or her from leading others into sin.

As we move from the investment, towards the “return”, we have to keep the focus of our actions clear. No matter what the step, the goal must be the reconciliation, the restoration of the relationship that is damaged.
A pastor recalls coming to a new congregation to discover a wide breach among many of the members. It felt very much like the old Hatfield/McCoy division, and the division had weakened every ministry of the church, to itself, and to its community.. After some weeks, the pastor discovered that the conflict had been in place for over 30 years and could be traced to two women, now both in their seventies, who were the first to disagree. After several months, the pastor called both women into his office and asked the big question, “What started the conflict? What was it that has kept the two of you from speaking to one another and so many members divided on one side or the other?” You may be able to guess the response. They could not remember any more the precipitating cause of the conflict. Over the years the initial point of anger dissipated and only rigid bitterness remained. This is what happens when the process of Matthew 18:15–20 is ignored in favor of walking away from fellow Christians rather than seeking peace.
WE have looked at the investment, and what happens if the investment is not made. What then, is the potential ROI that makes the investment worth it?

The Return
The celebrations!
How long an investment?

The return on investment is indicated in verse 15,

If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

I love the word for gain there, for it pictures a return beyond being fair. In 1 TImithy, the root word and its various forms are used to describe dishonest gain, or the kind of profit that satisfies even greed, an absurd amount, for the original investment. It pictures a return similar to Gates, with returns in the millions for a single dollar invested.

Therapeutically, there is the blessing of relieving from oneself, the resentment, even hatred that eats away at you, from the inside. That would be the normal return, the freedom from that mess that eats you up, but incredibly more, is the gain, when a relationship is fully restored. As hard as approaching the person is, the regard is a million times better! Consider the situation in 1 Cor, where the church had to discipline a member, whose behavior was atrocious. In chapter 5, Paul tells the church that they must take that last step, and bring him before the congregation, and expel him. Then in 2 Corinthians, the result of the hard work, bore fruit. Here is Paul’s advice there,

Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 2 Cor. 2:7–8
Another illustration of ROI
Another brother – coming to us,

I could suggest that these actions are commands, for in many ways, the work involved is not something any of us will willingly do. The discomfort involved is incredible. Do we use the law to motive the action? No. Never. It can show us what to do, but that is probably not enough.
Last week, we looked at Romans 12:1-8, where our motivation for using that which God had gifted us, was laid out. It was because we kept in mind the mercies of God, that we would live life sacrificially. So too it is here.
Keep in mind Jesus, who came to earth, with the specific goal of Matthew 18 in mind. He came, that He might find His R.O.I. – the church. He came, and confronted our sin, and sought to restore the broken relationship. Not punish, not divide, not gossip. He came to restore. His investment – His life, as He lived it perfectly. His death as well, as He took the burden of the sin, and bore it through the cross.

Think abut the joy you have, from knowing that you have been redeemed. Remember the joy you had, seeing a loved one being baptized, or the prodigal family member, return, forgiven by Jesus, and restored to the family.

As we look to our harvest season, the title of a book we received this week, describes us, at our best.

We are, and will be the “prodigal hugging church”. Haven’t read it much yet, but I love the picture. We are the brothers, who instead of complaining as Dad in tears of joy hugs the prodigal son, are running step in step with dad, reaching out to those that have walked away from God, and now are called back, by the father’s love.

For we too, were once the prodigals, and now having been restored by Jesus, know the joy, the peace, and the mercy of God, which surpasses all understanding, but guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. AMEN