Landowner, part 2

He continued seeking out the needy: I bet he had plenty of laborers after his initial 6 am "round up," yet the Landowner went back to the marketplace looking for those in need of a job. He went back at 9 am, noon, 3pm and then at the "11th hour", 5 pm.

Wow. This guy is persistent. I would've patted myself on the back for gettin' up at the crack a' dawn and making the first haul. But the Landowner is obviously not just in this for his own need of laborers. He is seeking out those in need and providing them with a job at a fair wage. Again and again and again.

At Christmastime, our SS class always gives to a family in need. This is a wonderful gesture (and one in which we were very gratefully on the receiving end of when Paul was in the hospital). I've participated in this - I'm pretty sure - every year. But I've discovered that if this is where my philanthropy ends, if this is what I consider "doing my part," I'm not following the example of the Landowner. A shoe box or Angel Tree gift at Christmas is a very nice thing to do, but needy people are in need ALL YEAR LONG.

In fact, I think I can admit that my generosity at Christmastime is steeped in selfishness. If I tip my hat to a worthy cause, then I don't have to feel guilty about the gluttonous indulgence under my Christmas tree. This is how I've discovered that I use needy people: I use them to feel better about my own situation (Thank you, Lord, that Terrill has a job. Thank you that we have health insurance and thank you that we have a home). And I use them to feel better about myself by giving to them out of my abundance.

Now, don't get me wrong... I'm not saying that being thankful for what the Lord has blessed us with is wrong. Absolutely not! And I'm not saying that giving out of our excess is wrong. No way!

But what I AM saying is that if that's where it ends.... if seeing people in need compels me no further than those two things... then I am a whitewashed tomb (Matt 23:27). Woe to me.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others." (emphasis mine)
Matthew 23:23