Today’s scripture: Matthew 21:33-41; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 20:9-16 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (E’sha Cooper):
Do you remember, as a kid, being sent to the store by one of your parents. They gave you, let’s say, a $10 bill; and all they wanted was a $1 pop and a 50 cent bag of chips. They said, “Get yourself something, and I want some change back.” Now some of us only heard, “Get yourself something.” So after we got what was requested, we went on an all-out shopping spree, sometimes spending so much that we had to put some stuff back. If you’re laughing, you probably did this.
In today’s parable we look at the story of the vineyard keepers. In those days, businessmen who invested in grape vineyards would get everything up and running, and then move on to the next endeavor. They would hire grape farmers to care for and harvest the vineyard. The husbandmen would live on the orchard grounds, take care of the crop, and harvest it, producing wine and various other grape products. When the owner believed the time was right, he would send for his cut of the profits.
Unfortunately in this scenario, those husbandmen did not want to give the owner what was due him. So when various representatives of the owner came to collect, these men would beat some, kill some, and even went so far as to kill the owner’s son, thinking that they could have the business all to themselves if there was no heir. Yet not realizing that they were setting themselves up for destruction, because when the owner returned, they would be paying with their lives. Now these men were really getting the better end of the deal, to begin with. They had a place to live, they had viable income, and they had a way to take care of their needs outside of farming; and all the owner wanted was the fair portion of the harvest they collected.
Some of us handle the blessings of God this way. We receive a gracious promotion or increase, and we do less and less for God; sometimes we even cut God out of the equation altogether. If God gives us a job, for instance, God expects us to be blessed by it, to obtain the resources we need to take care of our physical needs, and in addition God also wants us to be a blessing through it. God wants people to see the Christ in us. God wants the environment to be peaceful and energized because we’re there and because God has deposited those things in us. God does not want us abusing company time on the internet, mistreating our coworkers by being mean and nasty, or using more than what is appropriate in regards to supplies.
This is God’s world, this is God’s earth; the air, the water, the trees, the soil, everything belongs to God. God put you here to enjoy it and to take care of it. When God asks for an account of how you dealt with what has been shared with you, God wants to know that you did well with it and that you have something to offer back. God wants some change back.
Prayer for the day: Lord, forgive me. Sometimes, I have gotten greedy and forgotten why you have blessed me. I’m blessed to be a blessing. When you ask for an account of what I’ve done with my money, time, and life, may I be able to give a good report of my labor willingly and with joy. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.