Ownership of property
QUESTION: Abraham, in spite of purchasing some property, never
took ownership of "even a foot's length" (Acts 7:5). How do Christadelphians,
who also consider themselves strangers and exiles on the earth, stand on the
issue of owning or buying property to live in? What is Scripturally the correct
thing to do?
ANSWER: You have already provided a key part of the answer in
your question: Like Abraham, we are to identify ourselves so much with the
divine kingdom to come (when the faithful shall share the promised land
inheritance with Abraham: cf Gal 3:29; Rom 4:13; 8:17; Mat 5:5), that we
manifest no aspirations to establish a permanent residency in -- or to have
binding connections with -- this world.
Although Abraham was quite wealthy (Gen 13:2), he appears to
have deliberately chosen the life of a nomad, which would reflect his desire to
avoid the entanglement of urban life. Coming from Ur, Abraham knew that city
life could indicate man's attempt at permanency, suggest his independence from
God, and lead to idolatry and gross immorality (cf Gen 11:31,4; 10:9-11; Jos
24:2; Gen 13:13; 19:4-9), as Lot discovered in the city of Sodom. It is most
revealing that Abram absolutely refused to have any dealings with the king of
Sodom (Gen 14:21-24), choosing rather to be associated with the godly high
priest Melchizedek, who typified Jesus Christ (Gen 14:18-20; Heb 7:1-7). With
this background, we come to the verse you alluded to in your question:
"These all [Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob -- mentioned in vv 8-11] died in
faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it
from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the
earth" (Heb 11:13).
This attitude of being a temporary resident in this world --
sometimes called being a pilgrim (cf 1Pe 2:11; Gen 47:9) -- has a direct bearing
upon the issue of owning or buying property to live in. The Bible believer
understands that all the earth belongs to God (Psa 24:1; 89:11) and that, no
matter how much property we may accumulate in human terms, we are only temporary
owners living by God's mercy, and on His property. Two helpful texts illustrate
this principle:
"The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you are
strangers and sojourners with me" (Lev 25:23).
"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer
willingly? For all things come from thee, and of thy own have we given thee. For
we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were; our days
on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding" (1Ch
29:14,15).
The first reference is the LORD's instruction to Moses
regarding Israel's buying and selling property. This alone indicates that land
ownership was acceptable to God. The "year of jubilee" ensured that property
could not be amassed by a few landlords, but that every 50 years, each Israelite
was to return to his family property (Lev 25:8-13). This radical concept made
sense only because God was the real owner and they were but "strangers" in His
land. The second reference reveals king David's insight at the temple site
dedication. While people might think that David was donating his land and the
money for the temple, David knew he was really only giving back to God what He
already owned. Notice how David recognizes that even he, the king and vast
property owner, was still a "sojourner" in the land.
So it is acceptable to God for believers to buy property in
order to build homes, as long as they remember who allowed them such a privilege
(eg, Deu 8:12,17,18; Jer 29:4-7). They should realize that they are "stewards",
or managers, of God's property, which they should use for the sake of His people
(eg, Acts 4:36,37; Mat 25:14, 15). The example of the early church is a good
illustration of this principle in practice:
"Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one
said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had
everything in common... There was not a needy person among them, for as many as
were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what
was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as
any had need" (Acts 4:32-35).
Scripture does not discourage land/home ownership. It does
encourage willingness to share the benefits of ownership with others, such as by
inviting the church to meet in your house (cf Rom 16:5). In today's world, it is
often a legal requirement to buy the land in order to build on it. Men and women
of faith should not be anxious over the temporal ownership of property for their
homes, as long as they are willing to give them up for the sake of the Gospel
(if need be), and if in their hearts they are looking forward to living in the
city of God (Mark 10:29; Heb 11:14-16).
(NF)
