Remembering the Innkeeper

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TimV

Puritanboard Botanist
Lew Rockwell posts his essay on one aspect of the Nativity story every year, and it's a good read.

The Economic Lessons of Bethlehem by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

Moving on in the story, we come to Three Kings, also called Wise Men. Talk about a historical anomaly for both to go together! Most Kings behaved like the Roman Emperor's local enforcer, Herod. Not only did he order people to leave their homes and foot the bill for travel so that they could be taxed. Herod was also a liar: he told the Wise Men that he wanted to find Jesus so that he could "come and adore Him." In fact, Herod wanted to kill Him. Hence, another lesson: you can’t trust a political hack to tell the truth.

Once having found the Holy Family, what gifts did the Wise Men bring? Not soup and sandwiches, but "gold, frankincense, and myrrh." These were the most rare items obtainable in that world in those times, and they must have commanded a very high market price.

Far from rejecting them as extravagant, the Holy Family accepted them as gifts worthy of the Divine Messiah. Neither is there a record that suggests that the Holy Family paid any capital gains tax on them, though such gifts vastly increased their net wealth. Hence, another lesson: there is nothing immoral about wealth; wealth is something to be valued, owned privately, given and exchanged.
 
I'll dare say it!

This is a twisting of scripture to support Lew Rockwell's economic worldview!

As I noted in a previous post, Jesus was born in a stable because God had decreed that is where the Lamb of God should be born.
 
Not to mention that the number of Magi is not mentioned in Scripture, they almost certainly did not arrive on the night of our Lord's birth, and an innkeeper is nowhere mentioned in Scripture.

The point about "kings" is interesting (contrasting them with Herod, who did not even know the Scriptures and had to consult his own "wise men" for explanation). And the preciousness of the gifts is also noteworthy.
 
Nobody cares what I think and this is probably a waste of breath (or typing time) but two thoughts:

1. I've seen that MONEY CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS OF EVIL (in choosing a vocation either preach, teach, or make as much money as you can to further God's kingdom)

2. Camels just don't seem to want to fit through the eyes of needles very well or very often (without divine intervention)...

:2cents:
 
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