A Wealthy Burden
The only fine etiquette with which I am familiar is to start using the silverware from the outside of the setting and work toward the inside. While I know this protocol, I never understood the reason for having different forks and spoons, especially when none can help with pizza as well as my own hands.
This is where my loving and trusting wife tells me no one sets a full placement of silverware when pizza is served. Yet still I ask why would it be set for any other food?
A shrimp fork? No way! Pick that thing up by the tail, dunk it in your melted butter and eat it. A soup spoon? If the goal is to get more in your mouth, use a serving spoon! A salad fork? If you want a clean fork, hold your lips together when you take that last bite!
I mean no offense for readers whom appreciate the fine silverware cluttering up their tables. Selecting the appropriate utensil is likely second nature, and as such they would never consider using a butter knife to cut a hot dog or scrap up the extra nacho cheese left on the plate. There must be some other tableware for this purpose, for instance a wienie knife or a nacho spoon.
Many consider the full placement of flatware for a special dinner engagement (for which my invitation will undoubtedly be revoked after this article), for special guests, or for the wealthy. The wealthy are always invited to such occasions as most are well versed in the use of the full table setting and have earned the right to be there.
Yet some might think the affluent are excluded from their invitation into the Kingdom of God by the verse in Matthew 19:24 which reads, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” This is a common misunderstanding relating to a Jewish (as well as Arabian) proverb, not to a sewing needle.
When we consider the “eye of the needle”, we must remember the towers of the ancient Jewish and Arabian cities were often referred to as needles. All entered the cities through the main gates by day, open for traders and those bringing goods to market. At night, the main gates were closed to protect the city and entry was through a small door where several guards kept a close “eye” on activities. The “eye of the needle” referred to the entry door in or near a city tower.
Now, while this reference is larger than the eye of a sewing needle, it is still smaller than a standing camel. A traveler had to unload goods from the camel then coerce the beast through the door on its knees, or risk death and robbery outside the city. Getting the camel on its knees was not easy, although it was possible.
The correlation to a rich man comes in unloading all goods and possessions, or burdens associated with wealth. The unyielding burden represents areas in life not turned over to the Lord, which applies to many no matter our wealth. When we withhold what is the Lord’s, we find ourselves like a camel with no entrance to the city.
The question we ask ourselves is what belongs to the Lord? As long as we do not hold these things back, we should be in good shape, right?
Psalms 24:1 explains “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Everything belongs to the Lord and we are merely stewards over what He has assigned to us.
What about something you bought with your own money? See Psalms 24:1. What about a Christmas present? See Psalms 24:1. What about something I made? See Psalms 24:1. Something I earned? See Psalms 24:1.
All we have already belongs to Him. No matter what we have, whether little or great, we are all rich in the fact the Lord has provided for us. Our burden is heavy when we claim our own and light when we realize it all belongs to Him.
Our choice is to keep it all and die outside, or unload it all and come into the safety of God’s Kingdom on our knees. This may not be easy, although it is possible.
And once there, we are promised a fine banquet with all the fixings, and most likely, plenty of silverware at the place settings.
I’ll be looking for the wienie knife and nacho spoon.
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Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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