Taking and Receiving

Mon. September 14 - Matthew 21:33-38

33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’"

At the risk of being far too simplistic, many looters in major cities like Chicago argue that owners of property or businesses have gained their wealth through a rigged, racist system that favors some and not others. Therefore, they argue that they have the “right” to take whatever they want. I use this to illustrate the nature of our relationship with God. In this life we constantly claim that we have the right to all sorts of things that only belong to God. Everything in all of creation, from the smallest particle to the largest star in the galaxy, belongs to God. We are “servants” given the responsibility to “produce fruit.” We own nothing; not even our life. Not even our children are “ours.” Not the money we make or the property we buy. The good news is that through faith in Jesus we are made children and heirs of the kingdom of God. But this incredible gift is only through faith. It cannot be taken. If we attempt to take what does not belong to us by force we will only be wicked servants. By receiving the free gift of salvation in Jesus we become beloved children.

(Sorry this was posted late! Pastor's fault!!!)