Over recent years there have been many failed financial investments. The housing market at the individual homeowner level has seen the much inflated value of their home drop down to a more sensible value. But that doesn’t mean the mortgage payment dropped an equal value. So many people ended up upside down in their mortgage. They owed more to the bank than their house was worth. They couldn’t sell their home and move to a new location because they couldn’t sell the home and pay off their old mortgage.
The corporate scandals abound. So many originated with a few individuals who become wealthy off the backs of the rest of us. Stock holders demanded higher earnings on their portfolios, and the government was more than happy to help them out by changing the rules for lending. People who had no real prospect of repayment were given loans, with the government holding the bag. When they defaulted, we were stuck with the bill. A trillion here, a trillion there, here a trillion, there a trillion, everywhere a trillion trillion.
Its time for the annual meeting of the shareholders, or in our text’s case, the sole owner. The annual report is being read, and the dividends are being distributed. A check for everyone! But in our story, the legal representative of the sole stock owner is rebuffed by the bank. The renter-farmer won’t release the funds. They have put a hold on the payment accounts. They are refusing to give the owner the agreed sum of rent money.
So this representative goes back to the owner with his report and the owner sends another servant to collect the funds. Perhaps the owner faulted the approach of the first representative, unable to believe that the renter would not pay the amount due. But this time the hit him in the head, a more serious blow than the previous beating. And then they treat him shamefully. We are not sure what they did, but as the man leaves he is clothed in shame. Perhaps they followed the Old Testament examples and shaved his beard, or cut his robe to expose his private parts. Not the best way to influence people!
The owner is more than patient, giving the renter many opportunities to change his mind and pay the rent that is rightfully owed. But, no matter how his emissaries approach the renter, the outcome is still the same. He refuses to pay the rent that is owed. I would not want to be in line for rent-collection duties after the previous one has been killed. I might want to take a sick day from work!
How do you and I treat the LORD’s messengers? How many times does the LORD have to come to us and ask for what we owe? Are we free with our worship? Are we generous with our obedience? Do we overflow with thanksgiving? Is our life filled with abundant praise?
The Arnold Journey 