As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” – 2 Kings 6:5

Today’s Scripture Reading (December 12, 2019): 2 Kings 6

One of the principles of Christian stewardship is that everything we have belongs to God. Everything. God has given it to us for our enjoyment, but also for accomplishing his purposes on the earth. We are to take what we have been given and make this world a better place. Everything in this world was created by God, and he has never relinquished his ownership. What God has done is called us as his stewards, or managers, over all of the earth. This principle means that Christians should be leading the movements that call for the care of the earth; we should be the ones cleaning up our oceans and maximizing clean energy. But we aren’t. And there is one reason that we are not leading these movements. We have clung to the theology that says that the things of the earth are gifts given to us from a loving God. Resources are ours to use as we see fit. God gave them to us, and we are the owners, not God.

As the followers of Elijah begin the process of building a bigger place for them to train, an ax head flies off of the ax and finds itself in, presumably, deeper water. The ax head was out of the reach of the one who lost it. And it is a significant loss. There was iron in the area at this time, but it was not plentiful. Therefore, the ax head was a valuable commodity and essential for the advancement of life.

But the prophet also understands that the ax head was also not his. It was borrowed and belonged to someone else. And because it belonged to someone else, the one who lost it is understandably upset.

We don’t know the identity of the owner of the ax head, but it is possible that the owner of the ax head was not an earthly one; it was God. The word we have for borrowed (sha'al), carries the meaning that it is something that I asked for, or even begged for, and it was given to me. It might even mean that I prayed for it, and God answered my prayer. I was given the ax head to use, but it really belongs to the one who gave it to me, even if that someone was God.   

It is an attitude which we all need to reflect. Everything that we possess is borrowed, even if the one who lent it to us was God. And when we lose it, it is God to whom we need to explain the loss. 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 7