THE STORY OF JESUS: Matthew 21:33-41
“What will he do to those tenants?” (Matthew 21:40)
Are you a good tenant or a bad tenant?
I’m not talking about the house you live in, but the life you’re living.
Everything in our life is assigned to us from God.
Your life is God’s gift to you; what you do with it is your gift to God.
But what if we abuse our life, and the world around us?
If we waste the money, gifts, time or other resources He assigned to us.
If we hurt or take advantage of the people that God has put in our lives?
If we neglect or abuse our bodies, or the environment where we live?
If creation is God’s house, what kind of tenants have we been?
God has sent many reminders and warnings, trying to challenge us to change.
And Jesus has shown us what a good tenant is like, how God wants us to live.
Yet humanity rejects Jesus, mocks Jesus, ignores Jesus… kills Jesus.
God’s goal is to restore His ‘house’ and ‘family’, and that may mean eviction for some.
Personally I need to look at my own life: am I a good tenant or a bad tenant?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I cannot change other people, but I am responsible for myself. Help me to be a better tenant this coming year, to find ways improve how I am living for You and others in the world.
This parable reminds me of Haiti.
During the next 7 weeks I will be living with the principal of QCS who rents the house from an absentee landlord who lives in New York. Many do this in Haiti for the sole purpose of collecting rent – their income for their lifestyle.
The parable tells of the generosity of the landlord – the vineyard had everything. And the landlord expects the tenants to use all in a good way. The landlord was generous, patient, trustworthy, just. But the tenants abused the landlord’s patience.
And I?
How do I use His gifts entrusted to me while working in His vineyard? Our labour will not be in vain if we but trust in Him. We will have trials and persecutions but all is well with my soul as He has promised. The joy of the Lord God is my strength each day anew as I continue my pilgrim’s progress in His SonShine.
Lead me oh Lord, won’t you lead me
I am tired and I need Thy strength and power
To guide me over my darkest hour
For just open my eyes that I may see
Lead me oh Lord, won’t you lead me
Lead me, guide me along the way
For if you lead me I cannot stray
Or just open my eyes that I may see
Lead me oh Lord, won’t you lead me
I am lost if you take your hand from me
I am blind without try light to see