"Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers" Doesn't Cut It With God

[ courtesy BC SPCA ]

How To Deal With Things Others Have Lost -- Deuteronomy 22:1-4

Whoever would have thought that what we used to sing in the schoolyard as kids whenever we found something belonging to someone else was not, and is not, the way God intended for us to deal with lost property?

In this passage, Moses tells the Israelites what they are to do in such cases. We note first of all that the identification of the person who owns the lost property is simply "your countryman".  Now, I am going to stick my neck out and say that I'm sure that as we apply what we learn today, we can broader the definition to include our country-women as well, plus visitors, immigrants, etc., to our environs. With that settled (hopefully), we can move on to the actual instructions when we find lost goods.

The section started with the fact that we are to be on the lookout, not just for things that are lost, but for things that are on their way to being lost. So verse 1 says if we see someone's animal "straying away", we can't just ignore them -- we need to take them back to their owner. Today, maybe that's a horse, or a dog, or a cat. Or a child. Yes, you can't just take them for your own.  It's called being 'preventative' on behalf of the owner. God has given you that opportunity for a reason.

One example of something along this line from my own experience is the number of times I have been in crowded stores or just crowded streets, and I've notice (usually a lady) that has left her wallet or cellphone or small purse sitting in her shopping cart and has wandered away looking for tri-colored peppers. Or walking on the street and in front of me is a woman with her purse over her shoulder but the purse has come open and there sitting for anyone to help themselves to is her wallet or her cellphone. She wouldn't even feel the handiwork of the thief. In such occasions I make it my business to find a way to speak with her (without alarming her) and letting her know about the situation. You can't believe, after they get over the initial shock of a stranger talking to them, how thankful they are. I do believe we must do that. And who knows the value of our deed but God alone. I will never forget the time my mother lost her wallet stuffed with my dad's full weekly wages while grocery shopping.  Fortunately, it was returned by a police officer to the house -- before dad got home. She was saved. We are to do good for others.

Now what do you do when you find something you know belongs to someone else but you do not know who that someone is, or if you do, they live far far away? Well, verse 2 says to take the thing home and do not make it yours but rather keep it safe until you hear of someone seeking what they lost.  Then you get in touch with them and restore it to them. And perhaps as Christians we may want to go out of our way to look in newspapers or on store bulletin boards hoping (yes, actually hoping) to find the owner of what we found.

Verse 3 says this goes for anything that someone has lost and you have found, no matter what it is. And your role is an active one, not a passive one. The verse says, "You are not allowed to neglect them."

Verse 4 also instructs us to actually help get someone else's animals out of trouble if we have noticed they have gotten into trouble. Roll your sleeves up and help. Get dirty if you have to. Even before you even know the owner. In fact, it may be an enemy. Here's your chance to make them an ally, or to share your faith with them.

As I write these words today, it is Christmas Eve 2020 amid a lockdown very similar to those being experienced by millions of people around the world. Everything is so different this year from other years. We are without our families and friends. We can't go to church. When we go out, we have to stay six feet apart and if we enter a grocery store (one of the few types of essential retailers that are still open), we have to wear a mask. It's new territory for many people. But we can be sure of one thing -- God's rules for living and how to treat each other have not changed.

Before you sing, "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers" you have to make every effort to Find the Seeker, and turn his/her Weeping into Joy.

If you like the way we're studying Scripture, why not subscribe to the right of this post by giving us only your email? You can also check out what we've written on earlier parts of the Bible by checking out the Blog Archive below the Subscribe section. And finally, please share out link with your family and friends.

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.