September 1st, 2009
Throughout the years philosophers have tried to pin the origin and ultimate purpose of property law. Theories have stated that it is a logical construction for the creation and preservation of social utility and a product of such law, some have argued that property rights stem from one’s labor in that their labor is an extension of themselves. Still others that property is a natural right inherent in man and the universe. As Christians the latter has the beginnings of what sounds right, but we must go further. Scripture lays the framework for property law. From the dominion mandate given to Adam at the dawn of creation we see that all things are God’s and he entrusts them to men. As the psalmist says, “The LORD owns the cattle on a thousand hills.” This is, of course, an artistic expression for ALL things. It is interesting to note that this is subsequent to the dominion mandate, so while we are charged to go out unto all the earth and subdue it, the ownership is still God’s. In Legal terms, God has the ultimate title to all things that are. We are but stewards and our title is inferior to his as the caretaker of a vineyard is to the owner of the vineyard. So when we pick the words to describe property we should be cognizant of these things and let verbiage exclaim them. Let us not call our title ownership then, but stewardship. For though a man’s title to his home be superior to any other man’s, God’s is yet superior. In using these words may it keep us aware of the order of things and remind us to use the property he has entrusted to us, be it land, money, cars or clothes, as he has called us to use it in His word. From this responsibility comes rights to property and in following this biblical model we will see that concerns of social utility and the like are met far better in coherence with God’s word than in our attempts to make them the goal.
-Max