Mark 12:2-5
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?