RSS

Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

LOSERS WEEPERS

October 15, 2010

"Finders keepers, losers weepers." There's a street ethic taught since a toddler. But surprise...

You shall not watch your neighbor's ox or sheep straying away and ignore them; you shall take them back to their owner. If the owner does not reside near you or you do not know who the owners is, you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until the owner claims it; then you shall return it. You shall do the same with the neighbor's donkey...with anything else your neighbor loses.
Deuteronomy 22:1,3 TNIV

Jesus is not the only character in the Bible that has an ethic that challenges our street proverbs and what we are told is "common sense." Here Deuteronomy offers a social ethic, one that takes on the cultural proverb. "Finders keepers, losers weepers." The Word here says, "I don't think so."

Grace and kindness in this case are prescribed. I lost my cellphone in the airport yesterday. Stupid of me. But "finders keepers" did not apply. Someone unknown to me brought it to the gate. And this neighbor was more than glad!

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson