The donkey owners demonstrated their faith by allowing Jesus to use resources. Donkeys would have been a valuable asset in the day. Yet, in a verbal agreement, they allowed Jesus’ disciples to take their donkey.
Luke 19: 32 So they (two disciples) went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. 33 And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”
34 And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. [1]
Was This Prearranged?
Scripture does not tell us if this loan was prearranged or not. In the culture, a major religious or political figure could request the use of livestock, a custom known as angaria. [2] Someone who knew Jesus or His disciples might have been willing to lend an animal to them. In Mark’s account, the disciples say they will return the animal. Mark 11:3b The Lord needs it and will return it soon.[3]
Yet, Jesus had announced the sequence of events to come in Jerusalem. Luke 18:31b “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.” [4]
Jesus is well aware of what is coming and is following God’s plan. He may have well prearranged the use of the donkey as He had many friends in the area. It must have been faith-building for the disciples’ experience to fit what Jesus had predicted.
Using Our Resources to Build the Kingdom
King David realized everything he had came from God. 1 Chronicles 29: 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us![5] It is still the same for us. Even if we think we earned our money, we must remember God provides us with the health and skills to do so.
God indeed blesses us because He loves us, but we are often blessed to be a blessing to others. We are to share our resources to build God’s kingdom here on earth. Satan likes to tempt us to build our kingdoms instead of God’s kingdom. Our hearts towards Jesus will determine our priorities concerning our resources.
Matthew 6: 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. [6]
To learn more about allowing Jesus to use resources, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/forward-with-full-knowledge
[1,2-6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Bock, D. L. (1994). Luke (Lk 19:28–44). InterVarsity Press.