Two Lessons

This semester I am in a Bible study on the “Sermon on the Mount”, which is a message directly from Jesus to His followers. Throughout the Sermon we find many life lessons, some told as parables (a story used to illustrate a spiritual truth).  This weekend I had the pleasure of experiencing two of these parables all in the course of about two hours.

I look forward to Saturday mornings when I don’t have to hurry out of bed, but can take my time and maybe even sleep till 8:00 or so. This Saturday I was woken up by the next door neighbor’s dog at 5:15. This happens sometimes on weekdays and I usually have to get out of bed at 6:00 so it doesn’t leave much time for falling back to sleep. This particular morning I was able to fall back to sleep for another couple of hours. I awoke at 7:30 to birds chirping outside my window and I continued to lay there enjoying the leisure of the morning. Well, about 7:40 I heard a lawn mower start up out in the front yard. I thought “Oh no, someone’s gardener is here very early”. Maybe someone (me) should tell them they shouldn’t start before 8:00 am. Maybe someone (me) should let the owners of the house know that it’s too early.” Finally the mower stopped and it was quiet again. Just as I was beginning to relax in peace again I heard the mower start up again… in my own back yard!!!  Much to my surprise it was our gardener making such a ruckus at such an early hour!!! My husband had decided to try out a new gardener and this was the time he could come on this visit. I am very happy to report that he will usually be coming later in the afternoon.

So this parable reminded/ convicted me of the one Jesus told on “Taking the log out of my own eye, before removing the speck of dirt from someone else’s eye.” In other words be careful of pointing your finger at someone else, there are always three fingers pointing back at you.

Matthew 7:4-5, How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

My second encounter with another of Jesus’ parables happened as my husband and I were driving around looking at a few garage sales. Once in a while we do this just to spend time together.  This story is a little more somber than the first. We came to a house that was having an estate sale, which neither of us had ever been to. I went inside to take a quick peek around. I didn’t stay inside long at all.  I was overcome with sadness as glanced around the kitchen and family room of this little home. It was filled with dishes, trinkets, and lots of other stuff. These things had meant something to someone. I saw the couch and the chairs set up in the family room and pictured the family that may have filled the space within these walls with love. I could tell that this had been someone’s home until recently. My husband tried to reassure me that maybe the family were just selling everything and moving to Hawaii. From the way things looked I don’t think that was the case. I hope that the person that had lived there is enjoying a new home in heaven with Jesus now. In heaven we don’t need all of our stuff, God will provide everything we need in our new home.

Matthew 6:19-21,  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.