We plough the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love
Matthias Claudius 1740-1815
Thank God for the beauty of the earth
Read Psalm 24
How would you define ownership? What do we mean, when we say that we own something? We have it in our possession; or that we have bought and paid for it: Most people would understand what we mean when we say - we own something.
This understanding of ownership began very early in our lives, often one of the first words a child learns to say - is: “mine”. And the word “mine” grows up to be one of the major preoccupations of our lives. We work hard for most of our lives so that we can own things. Perhaps the first thing we ever worked to own was a bike, next came a car, then a house, then all of the stuff that is in the house. We almost always have our sights set on becoming the owner of something more. In our society owning stuff turns out to be the way that we value the success of a life.
So as you read Psalm 24 did you notice the shocking statement that was made? Right at the start of the psalm we are told ‘The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.’
This verse - along with many others in the bible asserts that God is the owner of everything! This means that we are the owners of NOTHING! We are actually living out most people’s worst nightmare! But we don’t need to panic because although this declaration is true - we know the owner of everything! The Earth is our Father’s and he owns everything in it.
In Paul’s letter to the believer’s in Ephesus we are reminded that Jesus, our Saviour has reconciled us to Father God, through dying for our sins, then God chooses to adopt us as his heirs. So, we aren’t trespassing or stealing – we are on Father’s property, using Father’s things. We are not the owner!, but we are one of the owner’s children.
Jesus told lots of stories – parables, about people being left in charge of things that didn’t belong to them. In one story they are left in charge of a vineyard; in another they are given large amounts of money to look after –it is clear that the person is supposed to enjoy what they have been trusted with, but they are also meant to take care of it. We are not the owner, but Jesus says we are managers of all that belongs to God. The earth is the Lord’s and he has asked us to manage it for him.
How are we doing at looking after it? God expects us to use some of what he has given us to live a full life. He wants us to have all we need and we might have noticed that God often gives to us much more than we need. Remember Jesus’ first miracle? The wedding at Cana? Through Jesus, God’s provides a massive amount of wine so that the celebrations could continue for a long time. We always seem to be surprised when we realise that God likes to see us enjoy ourselves - yet isn’t that what we expect from a good parent?
But God’s is not pleased when we become selfishly extravagant. There are other parables Jesus told which make it abundantly clear that God does not approve of selfish behaviour, such as the parable telling the story of a rich man who isn’t given a name - and a beggar who Jesus called Lazarus. The rich man finds that God isn’t at all pleased with his selfish lifestyle which ignored the needs of Lazarus the beggar.
God wants us to enjoy his creation, but also to share it and look-after those who need help. Caring for creation is how we can show that we love God, whether it is caring for other people by giving food to Birmingham City Mission, or simply recycling our paper and plastic, both are ways of showing that ‘The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.’
Use these lyrics to inspire your prayers:
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed Thy hand has provided
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
T. O. Chisholm 1866-1960 © 1951 Hope Publishing
On Wednesday there will be a Harvest Quiz along with a message – Stephen