Respecting Property Rights
After a busier than usual week, it was nice to stay home in the midst of the falling snow and work on our Christmas card list and get ready of my chapel service tomorrow morning. I did get out this morning to our monthly men’s breakfast meeting. Outside of my lengthy rest from yesterday, the week wasn’t too taxing on my level of strength and energy.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Never move an old property line that was marked long ago by your ancestors.” (Prov. 22:28 ERV) “Never move an old property line, and don’t take land that belongs to orphans. The Lord will be against you. He is powerful and protects orphans.” (Prov. 23:10-11 ERV)
Land and property rights have been a part of human civilization since early days. It is interesting how that issue of “property rights” is so much in focus in our world today. What is of interest is God’s original plan was to emphasize that the “world” belonged to Him. There was no permanent “ownership” of land as we know it today. However, we do see the importance of land allotted to various tribes remaining under the control of that family.
These two verses above come from the list of “Thirty Wise Sayings” of Solomon. So we find not one but two references to respecting property of others in this list. That indicates to me that, (1) this is an important issue and (2) it was a problem in Solomon’s days.
It seems that rulers and those in a position of wealth and power took advantage of others; especially those in financial problems. We see this in the case of the widow in the days of Elisha who was facing a debt she could not pay and her sons were going to be taken as slaves. We see this in King Ahab wanting the land that belonged to Naboth. In our day we would call that an illegal taking or the wrong use of “imminent domain.”
In the story of King Ahab we see the truth of Solomon’s words when he says, “the Lord will be against you.” The prophet of the Lord pronounced judgment on King Ahab for killing Naboth and seizing his property.
Why are these words that seem so unusual on the surface important?
They speak to the heart of the human condition. They relate to attitudes of greed and taking advantage of others. Especially those in difficult circumstances in life. These instructions also show that respect is to be given equally to all people. Power is not to be used to take advantage of others and treat them with contempt. That is whether the power is held by virtue of wealth or position or both.
The first of the “Thirty Wise Sayings” is “It is easy to steal from the poor, but don’t do it. And don’t take advantage of them in court. The Lord is on their side. He supports the poor, and he will take from those who take from them.” (Prov. 22:22-23 ERV)
We also see the warning, “Don’t be like a criminal who makes plans to rob those who are good or take away their homes. Good people might fall again and again, but they always get up. It is the wicked who are defeated by their troubles.” (Prov. 24:15-16 ERV)
We see that the Lord is concerned about the “poor.” In so doing, He recognizes that some are in that state because of the circumstances of life and yes others may be in the condition because of their own foolishness or laziness. Regardless of what brings it about they are not be taken advantage of, but responded to in an appropriate manner. Those who are “poor” because of circumstances of life need assistance. Those who are in financial distress because of their own doing, need instruction and correction.
As we study God’s Word, it is interesting to find insight into the verses of scripture that have spoken to the human condition and challenges in life that have existed over the millennium.