Mules

Mules have been around for ages. Even in the wild, a female horse can mate with a male donkey. Man has overseen the mating of horse and donkey to produce an animal that can carry more weight . They are sturdier than a horse and need less care when it comes to diet and living conditions. A horse, though, is easier to ride and a horse will follow blindly with its rider into battle. They know the bugle sound calling them into battle. A mule has much more of an ingrained sense of self-preservation and are often unwilling to place themselves in danger no matter how much the rider will try to urge them on. A charging cavalry would find themselves on an animal not as agile and quick and likely to be disobedient when trying to get them to go forward into danger.

A major characteristic of mules is that there is a mismatch of genetic material. The main way to get another mule is to mate a horse and donkey again. Mules are usually sterile. Births that come to term are rare. Sometimes a mule can get pregnant, but the embryo develops for just a few days and then dies because it lacks the genetic instruction to develop further. Mules can be useful to man for the best inherited traits from both the horse and donkey, but in the world of man, a person that takes on the characteristics of a mule is not useful to the Kingdom.

The most common trait seen here would be the inability to reproduce. This is often because of greed and selfishness. Me first. We see in the world of business and finance that a common characteristic is again greed, but also hoarding. One can never have enough. They store up for themselves treasures where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Where their treasure is, there the heart of that one is seen. (Matthew 6:19) It seems that no amount of money is enough and anything is fair game if it will produce a profit. I find it ironic that some like Buffet and Gates who are seen as ultra liberal by the religious community, are the ones that are divesting themselves of their wealth to help others. They seem to have a better sense of what to do with stored up treasures. They reproduce through their humanitarian efforts, while others remain sterile but think they are rich.

The same with politicians. They were given the responsibility to represent our interests, but seem to only look after their own. They have set up for themselves individual kingdoms. Set for life. Misusing and abusing money entrusted to them to wisely use. They work to ensure their future from day one in office, yet fail to remember why they were elected. Some still try to stand for what is right, but it is often a losing battle and God help them if they upset the apple cart. Billions have been stolen and no one is ever held accountable. People look to social security and health care and find the cupboard nearly bare. Yet those who took an oath to represent us have pensions and health care for life. Promises have just become ways to get elected.  Seldom are they seen manifest. Again, too many people that are sterile. They only produce a culture of more people only out for themselves.

Religious leaders are not exempt from producing too many mules. They go out of their way to forge alliances with those in power. It is just as much of an aphrodisiac to them as it is to the politician or businessman. Things that happen today with the alliance of politics and the church make them seem to be interchangeable. Too many in the church have forgotten what the Lord said in Mark 8:36-37 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Too much of the gospel has been neglected. What they don’t understand or are able to reckon with, they discard. This, in too many cases, has become a business. And the common man cannot afford it. For many, I would ask, “What are you producing?” Many are more interested in having followers than making disciples. In the Old Testament, Micah rebuked all in leadership in the church and business who used social and political power for personal gain. He summed up what we are to do in Micah 6:8 when he said, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, To love mercy,  And to walk humbly with your God?” The Lord said in Matthew 23:12 “ Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

We are to make disciples whether it is in politics, business or the church. We can and should reproduce that which is seen as good. That which brings life. That which causes many to look and see what is it that compels us to be selfless and not selfish. But too many feel they are doing quite well right where they are. In Revelation 3: 17-20, the Lord tells us to buy from Him gold refined by fire. But they felt they were rich and had need of nothing. The Lord tells them they are unaware that they are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. He then offers life and He stands at the door and knocks. Hear His voice and open the door. Invite Him in. See that the ways of selfishness has no good end.

Paul tells us in Titus 2 that His grace has appeared to all men and it brings salvation teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. We are to do the same thing today. Put off that which will only cause separation from Him, to the point you become so used to how you do things, you no longer realize the distance between you and Him. Seek Him while He can be found. He is the only way. I pray a spirit of wisdom for all. Blessings.