Tantrum in the Vineyard
1 Kings 21:1-10,15-16
Father’s day seems to remind us that dads often get the short end of their children’s logic and insight. For example:
One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her young son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?” His mother gave him a reassuring hug and said, “I can’t dear. I have to sleep in Daddy’s room.” There was a long silence and then she heard a muffled tiny voice say, “That big sissy.”
A three-year-old went with his father to see a litter of kittens. On returning home, he breathlessly informed his brother that there were 2 boy kitties and 2 girl kitties. “How do you know?” his brother asked. “Well, Daddy picked them up and looked underneath,” he replied, “I think it’s printed on the bottom.”
A little girl sat in her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would reach up to gently stroke his wrinkled cheek. Then she would stroke her own cheek. Finally she asked, “Grandpa, did God make you?” “Yes, sweetheart” he answered, “God made me a long time ago.” She thought about that for a moment. “Grandpa, did God make me too?” “Yes, indeed honey,” he assured her. “God made you just a little while ago.” “Oh,” she observed, “God’s getting better at it now, huh?”
Five year old Becky answered the door when the Census taker came by. She told the Taker that her daddy was a doctor and wasn’t home, because he was performing an appendectomy. “My,” said the census taker, “that sure is a big word for such a little girl. Do you know what it means?” “Sure! Fifteen hundred bucks, and that doesn’t include the anesthesiologist!”
King Ahab wasn’t what you would call a model father. He wasn’t exactly a model anything. In our scripture lesson a bored Ahab is wintering in his palace when he notices his next-door neighbor’s vineyard. He had a V-8 moment. What a great place to put a vegetable garden! Used to having what he wants because, hey, he is the king, Ahab offers what he assumes is a fair exchange for the vineyard. Naboth, the owner of the vineyard, responds, “This vineyard has been in my family for generations. It is much more valuable to me than another piece of land or more money. It’s not for sale.” Did Ahab need this particular piece of land? No. Could he purchase land anywhere for his vegetable garden? Of course! Did Ahab really need a vegetable garden? It’s doubtful. The thing that Ahab really wanted is something that ensnares all of us at one point or another in life. What is it? More.
In this instance, it is a predictable cycle. Greed leads to coveting. Coveting leads to lying. Lying leads to murder. And Ahab had his vegetable garden.
Now, before we think this is not something that we need to worry about – after all, none of us is king or queen of the land; neither can we manipulate some peasant out of his land – consider this:
State lotteries are built on the premise that you have a chance to invest something small for a huge pay out. The odds are millions to one but we love to buy lottery tickets, just in case.
Casinos have flashing lights and clinging bells that promise if I put one more quarter in and pull the handle one more time, I could be rich. The fact that it doesn’t happen much doesn’t keep countless numbers from squandering their mortgage payment.
Television is full of shows like “Deal or No Deal”, “One Against One Hundred” and even shows like the Bachelor follow the same story line. What are you willing to risk to possibly get the grand price of one million dollars or the handsome navy officer? What are you willing to risk for more? There is nothing innately wrong with lotteries, casinos or television shows. We just need to be aware what these activities draw forth from us. Now, I confess. Bill and I love watching “Deal or No Deal.” It is exciting to see how the numbers fall and the excruciating decisions people make whether to take what is enough (actually usually a whole lot more than they walked in the door with!) or risk it all for the elusive “more.” Some make it. Some go home disappointed. Very few times have I seen contestants on “Deal or No Deal” say, “You know, this is enough. I don’t need to have it all and I don’t need to risk losing what I’ve already accomplished to try to get it.” That doesn’t happen often. There is something so tantalizingly thrilling about standing so close to the line between disaster and huge triumph. It’s addictive. What price are we willing to pay for that adrenalin rush? It is heartbreaking on “Deal or No Deal” to see people walk away having had a small fortune slip through their fingers. But, boy, does it keep us coming back every week to see how the next person will play it. It’s almost like watching a wreck. You don’t want to see the bad stuff but you just can’t look away. The network executives are counting on it.
The best antidote to the poison of “more” is remembering that everything is already God’s. All of this stuff that I call “mine” is an illusion. Everything I have is a gift of grace. When we are blessed with those moments of “more,” receive them with thanksgiving. When we are blessed with the courage to not choose “more,” look at it not as losing something (because possessions never ultimately satisfy anyway) but rather let it build the character that makes us stronger, healthier people – people who are growing immune to the poison of “more.”
Ahab threw a tantrum for a vineyard and Jezebel’s murderous plot made it his. Was Ahab a better person now that he owned this piece of land – now that he was in possession of “more?” I think most of us clearly see that in fact he was worse off because his life would forever be stained by the death of an innocent man. Does it take seeing something like this so starkly before we really understand the price that “more” has on our souls?
Earlier this week I was invited, along with several other GLBTQ leaders, to lunch at Salvation Army’s Harbor Lights facility. It was a gracious gesture by the staff of the largest homeless shelter in our state to build a bridge to the GLBTQ community. Many in our community are very wary of the Salvation Army, primarily due to their national organization’s anti-gay expressions. I came away from that gathering convinced that the organization that runs the shelter is truly open, affirming and welcoming of GLBTQ people as staff and residents. They made it clear they don’t share the national organization’s discriminatory policies. I also came away with a deep appreciation for the work they do with people who have the least – least resources, least opportunity, and sometimes least mental or physical health. Jesus said, “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to me.” The entire world seems to be clamoring for more. You and I are called to a loftier and nobler goal – to inoculate our hearts to the poison of “more” and to help make a way for anyone to have access to God’s grace. If there is ever a “more” to crave, let it be more grace. Amen.
Sources:
www.homileticsonline.com Deal or Else, June 2007.
http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/fathers.htm Father’s Day jokes.
http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/2004/0401sumpic1.jpg Minnesota State Lottery website
http://jrjgames.com/main/randy/news/dond.jpg Deal or No Deal information
http://www.motel-search.com/graphics/las-vegas-sign.jpg Las Vegas strip
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/eonline/20070522/capt.4f667b23e9729b4477ecff6fa87ce68e.jpg Bachelor and Tessa information
http://www.nbc.com/1vs100/photos/index.shtml#cat=59&sec=429&mea=8639 1 vs 100 information
