I have several jobs. In the spring time from January through April I work as a field representative for the Tristate Livestock News (TSLN). In the summer I am a ranch hand for my dad and his brother. In the fall from September through December I sit at the sale barns and auctioneer. I easily feel like I have several "masters" in this world. While I do one job, lets say auctioneer, I will look forward to the next season, like working for the TSLN. Now I'm in the thick of bull sales and totally looking forward to the next season of the year. It seems like when one job gets tough or hard I seem to despise it and devote myself to the other job. Jesus says right away today, "No one can serve two masters." I can see why! Look at my own life with several masters, I never totally devote myself to one profession.
But Jesus isn't talking about our jobs in the world. He's talking about the sum of those jobs vs. HIM. He is our Master. But if we allow our lives to be controlled by our earthly masters there is no way we can let HIM control our lives. I've worked for several ranchers in previous years that were really good ranchers. But their master's name was spelled C-O-W. It seemed that if there was any excuse to miss Mass, or whatever church they went to, they would. For example, one rancher wouldn't come to Mass during calving because he had to check on his heifers. He thought 2 hours away from the ranch (driving time + Mass) was too long and something could happen. This year in the North Dakota territory for the Tristate Livestock News I've attended sales on a SUNDAY! They are in a yank to get the bulls sold and want to have it when no one else will so they violate the Sabbath because their master named $ says to.
I firmly believe that we are stewards of this land God has given us. We must be good operators. A bad operator is a bad steward of the gift God has given him. But we can easily allow that ranch and operation to become our master. It causes us to worry. I've talked about this in previous blogs. "So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." God knows what it takes to be a good rancher whether its calving, haying, bull sale season, etc... But if we allow ourselves to worry about the ranch MORE than our eternal salvation, MORE than seeking God, MORE than Mass, MORE than Confession then we are no different than the pagans.
I know it's a hard pill to swallow. But here's the deal we need to choose our master. Way back when Rome invaded Judah there was an officer that wrote back to Rome. He was explaining the people and what they were like. This Roman officer was baffled, in fact shocked, that these people took 1 day off from EVERYTHING every week. This was so shocking because in the Roman pagan world no day was set apart. People worked everyday and treated it like the last. But these Jews would put everything down on one day, the Sabbath. They took one day where they would WORSHIP the one true GOD. This set them apart, to be holy means literally to be set apart. Last week Jesus commanded us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. But now in these days, when we avoid Mass in order to ranch, we are worshiping our god of money and cows. The Jews didn't do anything to make an impression on the Romans verbally, but by their ACTIONS the Romans could see what was the most important thing in these people's lives. If someone followed you around, what do you think they would see as the most important thing in your life?
So what? I challenge all of you to begin this Lent by setting yourself apart from the world from the pagan way of living. Be like the Jews to the Romans, set yourself apart from their ways and seek first the Kingdom of God. Pray everyday, Read Scripture, Go to Mass, Go to Confession.
Peace.
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