Exodus 21:28-36 click here for the reading
In a bit of an odd reading, digging deeper into this scripture is necessary to hear God's voice and care for the things entrusted to us. Property, as it is explained here, is given by God and a responsibility for correct usage is given to the owners and managers. God wants and desires for us to make proper use of the things God places in our hands (or responsibility).
In the wider narrative (all of scripture) God's desire is that we use our property well, even resting our livestock and fields. But, proper use can only come from a proper understanding of what scripture reveals to us about property. Psalm 24 reminds us "All the earth is the Lords and everything in it." Pastor Lu, my colleague and mentor in NYC, used to say; "we are owners of nothing but managers of everything." None of our stuff belongs to us?!?
knowing that becomes a first step to living it. God asks us to manage our property, our wealth, our stuff not only for our own benefit but for the benefit of others. When Jesus tells the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), he does so that might be kingdom responsible instead of maintenance responsible. God's provision has kingdom goals. That is very different to the 'self made man' ideology or "the one with the most toys wins" practice found in recent history. Given the stuff you are blessed to manage, how are you taking care of it? How are you using it toward kingdom efforts?
If my motorcycle is really God's motorcycle, am I using 'Nicodemus' (the name given my 1998 Kawasaki Concours) in a kingdom way?
In a bit of an odd reading, digging deeper into this scripture is necessary to hear God's voice and care for the things entrusted to us. Property, as it is explained here, is given by God and a responsibility for correct usage is given to the owners and managers. God wants and desires for us to make proper use of the things God places in our hands (or responsibility).
In the wider narrative (all of scripture) God's desire is that we use our property well, even resting our livestock and fields. But, proper use can only come from a proper understanding of what scripture reveals to us about property. Psalm 24 reminds us "All the earth is the Lords and everything in it." Pastor Lu, my colleague and mentor in NYC, used to say; "we are owners of nothing but managers of everything." None of our stuff belongs to us?!?
knowing that becomes a first step to living it. God asks us to manage our property, our wealth, our stuff not only for our own benefit but for the benefit of others. When Jesus tells the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), he does so that might be kingdom responsible instead of maintenance responsible. God's provision has kingdom goals. That is very different to the 'self made man' ideology or "the one with the most toys wins" practice found in recent history. Given the stuff you are blessed to manage, how are you taking care of it? How are you using it toward kingdom efforts?
If my motorcycle is really God's motorcycle, am I using 'Nicodemus' (the name given my 1998 Kawasaki Concours) in a kingdom way?
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