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Are They Yours?
I have been blessed in one incredible way in view of this verse: I’ve had very few people treat me with dishonesty and unkindness. Maybe I don’t go looking for such, so I don’t find it, or maybe I just don’t realize when it happens. I’ve seen it over and over again in other people’s lives. Treat people fairly, maybe even with more kindness than they deserve and they return the favor with dishonesty and maybe even outright hostility. What’s up with that? Where do they get the right?
It struck me that the simplicity of how Jesus begins this parable speaks volumes about me personally.
In my early years I remember we had pear trees, peach trees, apple trees, and a grape vine at our house. My mom made jellies and preserves. I remember pealing pears and peaches, dealing harshly with the worms, and smelling the jellies as they cooked. Wow! A good grape harvest was a rare thing, mostly because us kids would eat the fruit as soon we found it ripe. However, we owned the land and we could eat freely, until my mom caught us.
Again, the Lord tells a story that was familiar to his audience. A rich land owner planted a vineyard, rented it to some tenants and went away. Vineyards take at least five years to mature. The owner was gone at least that long. In the meantime, the tenants spent their time and resources guarding and cultivating the vineyard. They came to consider the vineyard their own. But the owner knew who owned it and when the time came, he sent his servant to collect his due. I get the image of his servant being run out of town on a rail.
The simple question is, how do we treat the Owner and Provider of our stuff? Where do we get the right to consider it “our stuff?” Is Jesus challenging your right to own?
You know, my life really is a lot simpler when I “own” nothing. That includes myself. I have been bought with a price.
Many time I find myself struggling to hang on to all sorts of things of this world. It’s interesting to watch our 3 yr old and 19 month old fight over “my” water bottle. Huh? Don’t they know it doesn’t belong to them? Don’t I know it doesn’t belong to me, either. What a great teaching opportunity for our kids and for me.
Bill – thanks for the reminder that all I take care of belongs to God. This includes the water bottle, “my” children, and “my”self.
It is not all about me or money. I have to admit I sometimes react the way the tenets did and want to protect and defend what I think is mine (or like Chris’s kids what’s not mine). If I find myself doing that as evidenced by a lack of peace or rest I do what Alan suggested yesterday. I breath the name of God. I never called it that but I like that phrase. I pray and call upon God to help me see. I want to breath Yawah today.
I hope to get some discussion going on FOA. Several who read and comment here (not specifically referring to Chris or Penny’s comments above) have Bible knowledge and “know” what God says about stewardship; that “we are not our own”, “you are bought with a price,” etc. I think there must be folks who read all this and wonder what’s this all about. I’ve been in this walk for years, and I should be closer to Jesus, right? And I still struggle with ownership issues. This is a core problem. We just naturally get attached to things – Chris’ kids’ fight over the water bottle as an example.
Even those with a secular philosophy of life observe the same human condition. We grasp for things but weary ourselves with it, like Steve Martin at the end of the movie “The Jerk: “All I need is…” Jesus’ parable is not so much about disowning material things as paying honor to the Owner and to his Son. But I think there’s an application to our “stuff.” Who offers us the best deal if we want to be free from the burden?
Take a look at these lyrics to the Beatles “I, Me, Mine.” What do you think?
All thru’ the day I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.
All thru’ the night I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.
Now they’re frightened of leaving it
Ev’ryone’s weaving it,
Coming on strong all the time,
All thru’ the day I me mine.
I-I-me-me mine,
I-I-me-me mine,
I-I-me-me mine,
I-I-me-me mine.
All I can hear I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.
Even those tears I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.
No-one’s frightened of playing it
Ev’ryone’s saying it,
Flowing more freely than wine,
All thru’ the day, I me mine.
I-I-me-me mine,
I-I-me-me mine,
I-I-me-me mine,
I-I-me-me mine.
All I can hear I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.
Even those tears I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.
No-one’s frightened of playing it
Ev’ryone’s saying it,
Flowing more freely than wine,
All thru’ your life I me mine.
I think that I find myself to “proud” to let go sometimes. I take care of the things that are given to me. Why should I give up what I have worked so hard for?
Truth is, the more we work with what we are given, the more we should give it away. Learn the bible and share with one another. Be good stewards of our money, give back to the one who “lent” it to us and share with those that are in need. Practice our gifts so that we can give back to God and share with others.
I have nothing if not for God. May I remember that and treat the resources I have been given with respect and be a good steward.