The Owner Calls the Shots

GETTING STARTED

I will never forget when I was ten years old, helping my Dad build our shed in the backyard. At an early age, I was impressed by how much value, respect, and importance my Dad placed on the shed’s foundation. We spent time making sure it was level, making sure the corners were straight, and taking time to double check all measurements. For me, it was the first time I realized that the foundation of the shed had authority over the rest of the shed’s structure. The foundation was the true source for the shed’s symmetry. If the foundation was off, everything else would be off as well. 

  • What is the foundation of your life? Is it strong and solid, or shifting and unsteady?

READ THE WORD: LUKE 20:9-18 (ESV)

9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
    

has become the cornerstone’?

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Who did the work in creating the vineyard? Who owned the vineyard? Who had rights to the vineyard and why?
  2. What does the passage tell us about the motives of the tenants? What did they hope to gain?
  3. What was the owner’s last resort? What is the significance of this (vs. 14)?
  4. What are the consequences of building a life apart from the foundation that is the cornerstone? 
  5. In what ways do you find yourself being against the Son of God as ruler, owner, and authority over your life? Is it an outward rebellion with sinful actions against him, or is it an inward issue of the heart sinning against God?

RESPOND TO GOD

Jesus is the owner of our lives. He made us, and as creator, he becomes for us the cornerstone—the one upon which we can build a life that will stand. The truth is that we will either build our lives upon his authority or trip over it and be broken by the judgment we surely deserve. Oftentimes, our actions show that we are much like the tenants, who kill the son. We try to be the owner, authority, and final judge in our lives. But, God has given Jesus this authority over our lives. He deserves our submission to his authority.

  • Spend some time with the Lord asking, “God, in what areas of my life do I live as if I’m in charge of my life and not you?” 
  • Ask the Lord to align your life with his, “King Jesus, will you help me submit to your ultimate authority over these areas of my life?”