jn_en_2020_01_13
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- | ** ... ** | + | ** Important Social Principles |
+ | Ownership is an important social principle. We can possess things, land, or rights. We can even | ||
+ | possess animals. In history, the principle has even been applied to humans, which have | ||
+ | been possessed by others. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Without ownership it is difficult to act. Ownership is an organization principle for our | ||
+ | social interaction. When I put effort into something, when I build something, I can own it. Then, | ||
+ | I can also sell it to others, who give me something which they own. Using the invention of | ||
+ | money, values are converted into some type of currency, and we use money to efficiently | ||
+ | organize our exchange of value and possessions. | ||
+ | At the same time it is a basic question, in what sense possessions define myself. Do I own the | ||
+ | possessions, | ||
+ | and mental dimension. Responsibility for my possessions is influencing my life. Fear or | ||
+ | concern about my possessions can influence my well-being. | ||
+ | The principle of Ownership has been questioned several times by social visions throughout | ||
+ | history. Can we build a society without ownership, where everything belongs to everyone? In this | ||
+ | case you need to find an alternative to decision making on how to use things, how to sell things, | ||
+ | how to distribute money and value. Kommunism has tried to abolish ownership in some phases | ||
+ | of its existence - not with much success. Motivation of humans is strongly linked to ownership. | ||
- | {{ 2016_01_21_2.jpg}} | + | At the same time, also the biblical texts are putting ownership into a particular perspective. |
+ | They do not question ownership itself, they acknowledge it as important principle and demand | ||
+ | full truthfulness and reliability of humans with respect to ownership of things. At the same | ||
+ | time the bible reminds us that all what exists is given to us. God is the ultimate owner of | ||
+ | this world. We are just his children, created beings, given a place to live in and take care | ||
+ | of. The sabbath year of the Old Testament gives a limit to ownership and the collection of | ||
+ | wealth, which is a healthy boundary to human greed. | ||
- | ** | + | {{ 2016_01_21_2.jpg}} |
+ | ** Jesus Temptation ... ** | ||
+ | It is interesting and exciting to read the discussion between Jesus and the devil in Matthew 4, | ||
+ | where ownership is the main topic. Let us listen to this important passage: | ||
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+ | There are several things in this little story, which can make you think. Does the devil own this | ||
+ | world? Does he really have the right to give it to people? Where is the limit of this, it cannot | ||
+ | be completely true! Is he just trying to cheat Jesus? | ||
+ | Also, what does it mean to fall down and worship him? To fall down means to acknowledge someone | ||
+ | as the Lord, the king, as the person who can command and has power. Worship is an expression of | ||
+ | personal dedication, it shows that I am astonished and that I admire and marvel someone or | ||
+ | something. Only God deserves this central place in our life! Why should I give the devil this | ||
+ | important role? Why should Jesus do so? | ||
+ | How can it be that Jesus is challenged like this at all? Is it really a challenge? Did this take | ||
+ | place for us, is it that Jesus hat do experience the thoughts and challenges and temptations which | ||
+ | usually influence humans, who much less than him can see the majesty and magnificence of the | ||
+ | eternal God and Lord? | ||
+ | Here, ownership of things, of fame, of recognition and value is the core temptation under | ||
+ | discussion. If ownership of anything in this world interfers with the role of God, the eternal | ||
+ | creator, the beginning and ultimate purpose of all what is, we are in trouble. But it does | ||
+ | not need to become like that. Living faith and trust in God through Jesus and the holy spirit | ||
+ | can keep us save and sound, today and tomorrow. | ||
(Roland Potthast) | (Roland Potthast) | ||
jn_en_2020_01_13.1578899060.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/01/13 08:04 by potthast