In Luke 20:9-18 Jesus tells us a parable (or a story to illustrate a spiritual lesson) about an owner of a vineyard who rents out his vineyard to tenant farmers. When the vineyard produces its crops, the owner sends his servants to get some of the fruit. However, the tenant farmers beat them up. Three times the owner sent his servants and three times the farmers beat them. Then he sent his son (or heir) whom he loved, and the farmers killed the son.
Does this sound familiar? This story represents God and all He has created, and He asks us to care for it and to give back to Him our first fruits. Good fruits are the qualities that we have because we are grateful for what He has done for us. Galatians 5:22-24 tells us what the fruits of the spirit are: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We can show God how much we love Him by acknowledging that everything is His and taking good care of the things He created – people, earth, animals, everything! So don’t be like the tenant farmers who took from God and didn’t give anything back to Him. Be joyful and appreciative of all that He has done and will continue to do to supply all we need when we honor Him.
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for everything You have given us. Thank You for family, friends, food, and the earth You created as our home. But most of all, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for us and rescue us from our sins. Help us not to forget how much You love us and how much You want to have a relationship with us through Jesus. Amen.