Have a starsome weekend, everyone~

And for those attending SMTOWN L.A., have fun TT^TT

I live in L.A., yet I cannot go...*facepalm*

Just waiting for God's other plans for me XP

-Love, GinniePark

~*

Memory Verse of the Week:

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." - Exodus 20:7

~*

Good Stewards and Neighbors - Exodus 22:1-15

The Right of Property

1: "Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep."

2: "If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed.;"

3: "but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed. Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft."

4: "If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession - whether ox or donkey or sheep - they must pay back double."

5: "If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else's field, the offender must make restitution [pay compensation] from the best of their own field [grain] or vineyard [grapes]."

6: "If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution [pay for the lost crop]."

 

Entrusting Others

7: "If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double."

8: "But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person's property."

9: "In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, 'This is mine,' both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges declare guilty must pay back double to the other."

10: "If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking,"

11: "the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the LORD that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person's property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required."

12: "But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner."

13: "If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal."

14: "If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution."

15: "But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss."

[A/N: Keep in mind that sheep, ox, etc for them was as important as the biggest things for us today. Those things were means of survival back then. This then shows that God has certain rules for whatever theft or death occurs with some of the most important things in our lives, down to the very specifics. This, in itself, is a small measure of God's infinite justice and mercy.]

~*

Reflection

The Right of Property (22:1-6)

Some interpreters of the Bible believe that it advocates a form of Communism, the equal sharing of material wealth within a community. While this sounds good in theory, it does not match up with what the Scripture actually says. Today's passage shows that God grants people the right to own property. In a general sense, God owns everything, and whatever we have, even our own bodies, is merely loaned to us by God. But God grants us the right to "own" property in His stead and to be compensated when our property is stolen or destroyed by another. In these laws governing theft, God takes into consideration both the good of the thief and the victim. The thief is not unduly punished (e.g. cutting off of hands), and the victim is rightly compensated for the emotional distress of being robbed.

 

Entrusting Others (22:7-15)

We all want to be good neighbors at times. As good neighbors, sometimes we lend things out to those who are in need. But when something is borrowed, that item should be taken care of as though it were the borrower's own property. That is the assumption behind the laws described in this passage. If someone acts irresponsibily regarding a certain item that is borrowed, they have to face certain consequences. Therefore, the Law sides with the lender and ensures that the lender is protected from the carelessness of others.

If such laws of protection did not exist, it would greatly discourage people from being neighborly. God wants His people to practice generosity toward one another, and these laws help take away the fear and risk of being generous. One might argue that people should be generous even without such laws, but God desires to protect those who show generosity.

~*

Application

-Even though God has given us the right to own property and to call things "ours," this right should not be abused. We should not be wasteful, nor should we use our material wealth for our own pleasure or selfish ambition.

-Everything we have is loaned to us by God. We should take care of what we have been given with utmost diligence. We should also practice generosity, giving to God what is God's and giving generously to others.

~*

"Love your neighbor for God's sake, and God for your own sake."

-Leaves of Gold

~*

Called to Protect

In Matthew 5:38-42, Christ tells us not to resist an evil person. If they want to strike us, we ought to turn the other cheek to be struck. If they want to take our shirt, we ought to give them our coat as well. So is God commanding us to be rugs to be walked on? No.

In life, we need to know what is important and what is not. Of course we need to protect whatever is important to us, but that begs the question: Just what is important to us? We are able to turn the other cheek and give away our possession willingly because our strength and support is in God.

But what if our lives are in danger? There are countries where Christians are blatantly murdered simply because they are Christian. Should they turn the other cheek, so to speak, and wait to be killed? William S. Plumer answers, "There is nothing in this command forbidding us to take the life of men, who are seeking our lives, if we have no other way of escaping their malicious plots...Nearly the whole Christian world has united in declaring the right of self-defense against murderous assaults."

Ultimately, our possessions mean nothing in the long run. So if someone seeks to harm us, Christ calls us to seek to bless them. Even so, as we see in Exodus 22, God does call us to protect what is important. God does not call us to be spineless, but courageous. If your faith is being maliciously attacked, defend it. If your family is being physically or spiritually attack, defend it!

~*

A Letter to God

Heavenly Father, help me to be a better steward of the things You have given me.

I praise you because everything I have, even the air I breathe, is from You.

Teach me to be generous to those who are in need, as You have been to me. In Jesus' name. Amen.