Ownership

 Ownership

2 Thessalonians 3: ¹¹ We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. ¹² In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living.

 

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Frustrated with how things were going, I quickly assessed it was someone else’s fault. If this boss would simply act right, then I could climb the ladder faster and higher. I left that job in pursuit of the perfect group, only to be met with zero success. “What is wrong with me?” I finally shouted out.

 

• I could not fix my problem until I realized I had a problem.
• I was so busy looking at everyone else, that I took my eyes off of myself.
• I got comfortable blaming other people and did not own my choices, mistakes or path.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy give some harsh words to those who refused to work and who were meddling in other people’s business. They provided a solution to “Lazy lives” and “Meddling”, namely ownership.

 

My Observations

• My complaint about other people is usually a problem within myself that I need to give to the LORD.
• Any tendency to live a “lazy life” will backfire in my face.
• GOD wants me to confess ”my” sins so HE will cleanse “me” of all unrighteousness.

 

Ownership starts and stops with me. I mean, when I hear a sermon, it is not about someone else, rather I need to hear the words to grow in areas I am weak. GOD speaks to me daily through HIS word and convicts me in areas HE wants to grow me.

 

When I own my deficiency, HE gives me a workout plan to exercise to. Trial after trial, GOD strengthens me in areas I need to grow. When I can stand up in that area, GOD says “Well done!” I am glad GOD examines me and shows me that I need a perfect GOD to help me with “my” imperfections.

 

Challenge

• What complaint were the writers trying to address?
• Have you ever just wanted to be lazy or speak to other people about someone else?
• Will you take ownership of your relationship with GOD and confess your sins to HIM so HE will be faithful and just to forgive you today?

Owning Land

 

Owning Land

Romans 1: ⁷ And so I write to all of you in Rome whom God loves and has called to be his own people:

 

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

 

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“Why can’t he keep his lawnmower on his side!” I said to myself. My neighbor cut his grass too low for my taste. I pondered telling him about the boundaries. Meanwhile at church, a lady told me a story of her walking around her neighborhood, praying for each of her neighbors. I felt ashamed.

 

• Many times I have been selfish.
• Many times I did not want to share.
• Many times I looked at my neighbors as an inconvenience.

 

Paul writes a letter to all Romans. He wanted to tell them how much GOD loves them and has called them to be HIS own people. No matter the race, gender or age, Paul wanted GOD the FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST to supply grace and peace to them.

 

• GOD wants me to take ownership of the land around me.
• GOD wants me to be responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of my neighbors.
• GOD wants me to desire grace and peace to all in the land HE gives me.

 

Ownership to humans means greed. I mean, owning land means I have to purchase it, maintain it and someday sell it for a profit. But ownership to GOD means I recognize HE owns everything, HE paid for the sins of everyone by dying on the cross and HE wants me to maintain what HE did by loving my neighbor.

 

Ownership reduces my blame and increases my assistance. I can then see what GOD sees in each person. I can look beyond their selfishness and pray for my neighbors to have grace and peace from the FATHER and our LORD JESUS CHRIST. I am glad HE gives me land to own.

 

• Do you have more complaints about your neighbors than praise?
• Is your first reaction to get angry at people?
• Will you reduce your quick temper and allow GOD to work through you by owning the delivery of grace and peace to those around you today?

Ownership

Ownership

John 10: ¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

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Seeing the overflowing garbage can, I quickly turned my eyes. It was no longer my shift and it was two in the morning. This can was the furthest from the dumpster and besides, it was next to the door on my way home. I bypassed the garbage. “Let the next shift handle it.”

• Many times I overlooked things that I had a “right” to overlook.
• Many times I shirked away from things I felt were not “my” responsibility.
• Many times I avoided messy situations because I did not want to get messy.

JESUS healed a man born blind on the Sabbath and was accused of heresy by the church leaders. HE called them blind and implied they had no part in HIS kingdom. HE switches the conversation and talks about how much HE cares for humans. HE mentions how “HE gave HIS life for the sheep”, both Jews and Gentiles.

• JESUS wants me to share in HIS desire to bring all humans back to HIM.
• JESUS wants me to empathize with HIS goal of looking for those who have wandered away from HIM.
• JESUS wants me to own the problem of seeking the lost and being involved in messy lives.

Owning the problem of bringing people back to GOD seems huge and overwhelming. BUT GOD does not expect me to save the world. HE simply wants me to reach “that” person and then another and another. HE desires my testimony to be simple but sincere. I am a sinner with no solution to sin, BUT JESUS has all solutions. To HIM, I point my life.

• Do you know your neighbors?
• Have you prayed for them or for other people outside of your family?
• Will you own the lives of those around you, without trying to control them and allow GOD to speak about JESUS through you today?

Ownership

Matthew 13: ⁴⁷ “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.

“Yes,” they replied.

⁵² He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

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“Step on it” my passenger said to me on a dirty, gravely, tar filled, construction zone road.. I replied, “I don’t want to kick up too many rocks.” I was surprised by the reply. “It’s a rental, who cares what happens to it!” Hmmm, I thought. I spun the tires!

• When it’s not mine, I don’t care what happens to it.
• When it’s not mine, I treat it like it is someone else’s problem.
• When it’s not mine, I could care less about the condition I leave it in after I use it.

From cars to apartments to houses, if I don’t own it, I do not care what happens to it. I may even have a title or a deed, but not “own” the thing in the way I treat it. Same with people, if I do not take responsibility for those around me, then I could care less for what happens to them.

• GOD says to me “Help MY people get into the net.”
• GOD says to me “Help MY people understand MY kingdom.”
• GOD says to me “Help MY confused sheep follow MY voice.”

Ownership in this parable points to the kingdom. The teacher is responsible for speaking about CHRIST as the new covenant, but upholds the laws of the Old Testament. Owning GOD’s word means I see things as “us” versus “them.” “We have sinned” not just me.

GOD wants me to take ownership of HIS people so I can tend to them with care.

• Are you looking at GOD selfishly?
• Do you refuse to pray for “that” person?”
• Can you include more people in your care and provide for them “new treasures” as well as old?