Parables are the best way to understand our relationship with God and the world, and Jesus used them all the time. God is a "king"; the world is "a field"; spiritual riches are "gold and silver", or "wheat", or "the harvest"; birds and brambles are "the evils of this world". This is a favorite of mine:
“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five measures of gold, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey...."
- Matthew 25:14-30
We are God's "slaves", and we've been given gifts of "gold" to invest, and He will return to collect what he gave us. Whatever is left over from our investments is ours. But what should we invest in? Well, we have to figure that out. We would be well advised to imitate our master and buy seed, or vines. We could sow wheat or plant a vineyard. The important thing is to engage in commerce, have faith, and produce. Success is assured if we imitate the master. Jesus tells us, "He is greatest among you who is the servant of all."
Spiritually speaking, the second meaning of this parable is that we should seek God above all things. God wants us to engage in commerce with Him. He wants something from us and we desperately need and want what He has; that is, eternal life in profound joy and pleasure. We can escape death with God's help.
This parable - and others - prove that Marxist/Socialists are lying when they say Jesus was a socialist, and they try to put on the cloak of Judeo-Christianity. The wealthy who create, produce, and share their wealth by giving others opportunities are the most welcome in Heaven.
Most important, the natural, real world is made up of hierarchies. There's no such thing as equality in the narrow, human sense. We all have unique talents, abilities, and shortcomings. We don't all want the same things, in spite of what politicians tell us. Not all people want to be rich and powerful; brilliant and accomplished. Some of us want to serve and be of real value to the world and to the Lord.
This planet belongs to God, regardless of what we think or desire. It's not "your land" or "my land, from California to the New York island"; no thank you, Woody Guthrie.
We are given power in it to create things on our own.
What are we to make, then, of the world's rapid decline into debt, economic depression,and bankruptcy? Every nation in the world is now in grave danger, vulnerable to forces that are out of control, and very few saw the danger coming just a few short years ago.
God has an eternal enemy, Satan, and he has convinced us that there is no God. He's even convinced most people that he, the Devil, doesn't exist. The world is going to Hell all by itself, it appears. Obviously, we are clearly in over our heads today, and all the experts and geniuses who designed the monetary and government systems have failed. Get ready for massive changes.
The one thing we must know and keep in our mind is this: It was all predicted thousands of years ago, and God's plan is in place. Make peace with your God and serve your God. That is our first and best duty and hope.
“Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five measures of gold, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey...."
- Matthew 25:14-30
We are God's "slaves", and we've been given gifts of "gold" to invest, and He will return to collect what he gave us. Whatever is left over from our investments is ours. But what should we invest in? Well, we have to figure that out. We would be well advised to imitate our master and buy seed, or vines. We could sow wheat or plant a vineyard. The important thing is to engage in commerce, have faith, and produce. Success is assured if we imitate the master. Jesus tells us, "He is greatest among you who is the servant of all."
Spiritually speaking, the second meaning of this parable is that we should seek God above all things. God wants us to engage in commerce with Him. He wants something from us and we desperately need and want what He has; that is, eternal life in profound joy and pleasure. We can escape death with God's help.
This parable - and others - prove that Marxist/Socialists are lying when they say Jesus was a socialist, and they try to put on the cloak of Judeo-Christianity. The wealthy who create, produce, and share their wealth by giving others opportunities are the most welcome in Heaven.
Most important, the natural, real world is made up of hierarchies. There's no such thing as equality in the narrow, human sense. We all have unique talents, abilities, and shortcomings. We don't all want the same things, in spite of what politicians tell us. Not all people want to be rich and powerful; brilliant and accomplished. Some of us want to serve and be of real value to the world and to the Lord.
This planet belongs to God, regardless of what we think or desire. It's not "your land" or "my land, from California to the New York island"; no thank you, Woody Guthrie.
We are given power in it to create things on our own.
What are we to make, then, of the world's rapid decline into debt, economic depression,and bankruptcy? Every nation in the world is now in grave danger, vulnerable to forces that are out of control, and very few saw the danger coming just a few short years ago.
God has an eternal enemy, Satan, and he has convinced us that there is no God. He's even convinced most people that he, the Devil, doesn't exist. The world is going to Hell all by itself, it appears. Obviously, we are clearly in over our heads today, and all the experts and geniuses who designed the monetary and government systems have failed. Get ready for massive changes.
The one thing we must know and keep in our mind is this: It was all predicted thousands of years ago, and God's plan is in place. Make peace with your God and serve your God. That is our first and best duty and hope.
