How does "the Lord needs them" challenge our view of personal ownership? The Setting: A Donkey and a Colt Matthew 21:2-3 — “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” The Phrase: “The Lord Needs Them” • In a single sentence Jesus overturns normal assumptions about property. • The animals are not requisitioned by force; the owner releases them freely once he hears, “The Lord needs them.” • The statement presumes that whatever we “possess” remains at the Lord’s disposal. Ownership Reframed: God as Ultimate Owner • Psalm 24:1 — “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” • 1 Chronicles 29:14 — “Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.” • Haggai 2:8 — “The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, declares the LORD of Hosts.” → Our title deeds are temporary; God’s claim is permanent. Stewardship Over Possession • A steward manages another’s property for the owner’s purposes. • Luke 16:1-12 pictures faithful and unfaithful stewards; the steward’s job is to be “trustworthy” with what belongs to another. • When the Lord calls for an asset—time, money, skill, or literal donkey—faithful stewardship responds, “It’s Yours already.” Implications for Our Daily Lives 1. Hold possessions with an open hand. – Hebrews 13:16 — “Do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” 2. Expect God to redirect resources. – Acts 2:44-45 shows early believers selling property to meet needs. 3. Measure value by kingdom usefulness, not personal convenience. 4. Release without delay; the owner in Matthew 21 acts “right away.” 5. Trust God’s provision. Giving the donkey did not impoverish the owner; it placed him inside prophecy (Zechariah 9:9). Real-Life Application • Budget with the question, “If the Lord needs this, how quickly could I release it?” • Dedicate vehicles, homes, tools, accounts, and abilities to His service. • Resist possessiveness: “my” schedule, “my” platform, “my” plans. • Celebrate when God uses something of yours for His glory—He just wrote you into His story. Scriptures Echoing the Same Truth • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — Even our bodies are His property, “bought at a price.” • Luke 12:15 — “Life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” • 2 Corinthians 9:7-9 — Cheerful generosity aligns us with God’s ownership and provision. Summing It Up “The Lord needs them” reminds us that everything in our barns, garages, bank accounts, and calendars is already stamped “Property of the Lord.” Our privilege is to steward those resources so that, when He calls, we can answer instantly, joyfully, and without reservation. |
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