Words from the Rock
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. . . . He rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them . . . and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son,” he said.
But when the tenants saw the son, they . . . threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Matthew 21:33–39 NIV
One of the most aggravating stories to make the news—and unfortunately it seems to happen too much—is when some mega-corporation, high-up executive swindles millions of dollars from his company. Maybe he even does it in a “legalized” manner, but just the same he’s stealing from employees, shareholders, customers . . . and getting away with it. Workers might lose their jobs, pensions, and homes; shareholders might lose their savings; and sometimes innocent bystanders (taxpayers) get stuck with the bill. All because the exec, who got paid the really big bucks, was supposedly “managing” a corporation but secretly lining his own pockets at the expense of everyone else. It’s maddening!
That’s probably a little how Jesus felt when he was speaking to the religious leaders of his day, because these guys were a lot like that corrupt executive. Except that their job was to manage God’s business. They were supposed to be caring for the spiritual needs of their people. Instead they were burying people in crazy religious rules, as well as extracting money and goods—essentially giving God a bad name. No wonder Jesus was so aggravated at them!
The story Jesus tells about the landowner and the vineyard is really about the religious leaders and how they’ve taken advantage of God’s generosity, how they’ve mismanaged his people, and how they’ll eventually kill God’s Son. It’s not a happy story, but it’s one that needs to be told. And the message we can take away is that God gives everyone something of value to manage, and when we handle it his way, our story will have a happy ending.
My Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for entrusting me with things like life, talents, family, and friends. Please help me to take good care of all you have given me.
Amen.
Final Word
Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Ephesians 6:10 NIV
Stone for the Journey
With God’s help, I can manage what he puts in my life.