30 Wisdom SayingsSample

SAYING 5: YOU ARE NOT A ROLLING STONE

Boundary stones, aka kudurru, were used to mark land transferals in the ancient world.
In Deuteronomy 19:14 and 27:17, Moses explained to the Hebrews the land that God was giving them would be portioned and marked out for them to possess.  It was a gift to them by God as an inheritance to be received.  When it was marked and assigned, there was a strict adherence required by all the tribes to honor the set boundaries.  It was required by God and law that nobody was allowed to move the boundary markers, for that would be considered stealing.  Stealing was absolutely not allowed in the community.  Stealing destroys trust.  Trust is imperative in the tribes, communities, nations, marriages, families, and friendships. Movers of boundary stones in the Old Testament were equated to thieves.  

Relevance?  Be careful to honor boundaries legally and relationally.  You build trust and strong working relationships when people can trust your word and their property in your hands.  

Stones had great symbolic significance in the biblical writings. Jacob set up a memorial stone to God's presence, and the prophet Samuel set up a stone and named it Ebenezer "Stone of Help" to commemorate the victory God had given to Israel.  Twelve stones were taken from the Jordan River after it parted and the people crossed safely. The twelve stones represented the twelve tribes of Israel, and they were placed as a memorial so that nobody would ever forget what God did in parting the waters of the Jordan.

The Ten Commandments were made from stone, but later replaced by God as our Rock - meaning refuge and strength.  Jesus became our chief cornerstone, and in I Peter 2:4-10, Peter refers to Jesus as the Living Stone and then declares that we as believers are "living stones being built into a spiritual house."  The stone has come a long way in its journey from being a weapon of war, to building a wall, to the stone that was rolled away at the resurrection of Jesus, and finally to us being the "living stones" put together for a strong new temple. We are the new and powerful church for the world in this millennium.  God's presence now dwells in human hearts bound together, and not buildings made of stone.  

Be the living stones that build the church and define a new way of living for the world.  Our message is that the church does not build walls of stone nor do we throw stones in hate, but we build the new and we rebuild what is destroyed.  

- Pastor Kim McManus

ACTION

Promote trustful relationships.  Be a rock for someone who needs a little support. Look for ways you can serve your church by helping it expand its mission on a solid foundation.

PRAYER

Lord, You are our Rock and upon You we will build the Church as living stones.  Help us be builders and not destroyers.