What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?'
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last."
The parable of the Landowner is one of my favorites, perhaps because my father became a man with the Marine Corps in the South Pacific. He governed his family justly and felt no need to explain himself to his children.
Because we imagine God as our fathers magnified, I still think of God as both stern and affectionate. I remember with great fondness the privilege of fishing with my dad. The other boys wanted their share of his attention but they didn't want to fish, play ball, or pelt each other with snowballs.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.
Our faith in God begins with reverence. Or, as the bible says, in Fear of the Lord. I understand many of my generation intensely dislike the word fear when speaking of their spirituality. Many had bad experience of that 'greatest generation" who often threatened, and sometimes beat, their children into submission. More than fear, they dreaded and loathed that abuse.
A friend told me of how his father threatened him with an iron hard fist. But when he finally struck the teenager, the boy realized he'd survive the blow, and it wasn't that bad. He no longer feared or respected his father. He left home shortly after, and they were never reconciled.
We hear many threats in the Bible, as the Hebrew prophets fumed about the dreadful ways of Jerusalem's kings and priests. The "holy city" acted no differently than any other city; so why shouldn't it suffer the fate of all human civilizations? The LORD had provided them with holiness, freedom, security, and prosperity; but a few hoarded wealth for themselves for no particular reason. Widows were neglected, orphans went hungry, and alien refugees were unwelcome. When they abused his blessings and ignored his warning, what should the Lord do but withdraw his blessings, and let the pieces fall where they will.
The rape of Jerusalem by Assyrian and Babylonian armies was dreadful. Many were slain and the elite who were not taken into the Babylonian captivity, fled from Judah, never to return. The poorest of the poor inherited the wasted land. It was the "Crucifixion of the Old Testament;" and only a remnant would return from the "diaspora."
But God had sworn everlasting fidelity to Abraham, Moses, and David and He has never abandoned his Holy People. Anyone who despises Abraham's descendants today -- whether Jews or Christians -- despises God, regardless of what they say. They will suffer the fate of ancient Assyria, Babylon, and Persia. Only God's people survive the ages; and only because God is faithful. His Word endures forever.
Tragic stories remind us that the Love of God is life itself, both demanding and serious. We dare not suppose we can live recklessly, and put off listening to His Voice until the last minute. I have met many elderly people who now suffer alcohol-related dementia and cannot hear the words of assurance the priest or minister offers. We pray for them – may God have mercy on them – and hope that perhaps our faith in God might make a difference on the Judgment Day.
God’s love is demanding and serious, so is human life. I learned that also from my father, who’d seen action in the South Pacific. When our human nature doesn't get what it wants, it reverts to violence; and there is no compunction, remorse, or regret in that struggle. The killing is arbitrary, like crime in the United States. Anywhere, anytime, we may be called to give an accounting of our life.
And so we practice reverence, devotion, awe, or – as I prefer – the Fear of the Lord. It is not easy or fun. It entails prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – that is, real sacrifice. The Old and New Testaments warn us against hypocritical piety –
Do not put your trust in these deceptive words: “The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD!”
Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds; if each of you deals justly with your neighbor; if you no longer oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow; if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow after other gods to your own harm, only then will I let you continue to dwell in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors long ago and forever.
But look at you! You put your trust in deceptive words to your own loss. (Jeremiah 7:4-7)
The Bible also tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Our fidelity and knowledge begin with reverence for God. We bow in grateful worship before the Landowner who owes us no explanation for his generosity.
But the pagan god we call efficiency demands abortions, euthanasia, artificial insemination, and surrogate pregnancy; all of which violate the beauty and holiness of human life. Human sciences without reverence often generate nonsense. We have only to watch artificial intelligence, which knows neither fear nor reverence, promise efficiency and effectiveness at the cost of human dignity. Communists and Nazis promised the same prosperity and security to Russia and Germany; they had only to murder millions of helpless people.
Yet even now—says the LORD—
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God,
For he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind a blessing (Joel 2:12-14)
