SCRIPTURE: Joshua 19
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. And so they finished dividing the land. [Joshua 19:51]
Another uninspiring chapter, sorry to make you read through these.
And yet, with a little perseverance, you can find a nugget or two.
The division of the land among the leaders and the tribes, according to their size or situation, reminds me of how the Lord divides up His gifts among us, blessing each one uniquely.
Again, the kingdom of heaven will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. [Matthew 25:14-15]
These passages remind me that everyone receives something, and what they receive is suited to how God has shaped them, their abilities.
No one is without an inheritance of some sort.
Everyone has something to work with, which can be used for the Lord’s glory and purpose.
What we have been given is not given for us to use and abuse according to our own designs; we must use it for God’s glory and purpose.
And doing nothing is not an option either; everyone will be held accountable for how they used the resources that God has entrusted to them.
How do we use the property that He has assigned to us?
Just for our own pleasure, or to bless others? in a God-honouring way?
How do we use our time, how do we use our bodies, our mouths, our money, our abilities.
Everything is a gift, therefore everything needs to honour the giver.
We know from the history of Israel that the land was not stewarded in a God-honouring, neighbour-serving way.
We know from the parable of Jesus that one servant did not invest the talent, but buried it.
The lesson here is to be very aware of how we use the gifts God has given us.
Maybe it would be good to move beyond the obvious, and think about the less than obvious: how do we stewards our mouths, our minds, our time?
He has divided up the ‘gifts’ to each of us, for a specific purpose.
Nothing is by chance.
Are we wasting the opportunities that the Lord has given us, or are we making the most of them?
PRAYER:
Lord, everything about me is from You, by Your design. Even the things I don’t like. Help me steward them faithfully for You!
The division of the land – a gift from the Lord – their inheritance. It was done in His presence at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
My inheritance is also a gift from the Lord. My talents, my resources are also for His purposes. What am I doing with what I have received? All what I have is His and how do I use what He has given me? I must be a faithful steward working for Him. Open my eyes Lord so that I do see the opportunities that lie before me for Kingdom service. Open my heart Lord so that I am ‘soft’ for Your purpose in my life. Open my hands Lord, that I am willing to use the resources received to give to Your causes. Help me daily to walk in Your SonShine.
All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.
Thy thoughts, O God, how manifold,
More precious unto me than gold!
I muse on their infinity,
Awaking I am still with Thee.
The wicked Thou shalt surely slay,
From me let sinners turn away;
They speak against the Name divine,
I count God’s enemies as mine.
Search me, O God, my heart discern,
Try me, my inmost thought to learn;
And lead me, if in sin I stray,
To choose the everlasting way.