Are The Gifts Greater Than THE GIVER?
If you really think about it, there is only one CREATOR (Gen 1:1, Jn 1:1-3). We are imitators. Our inventions are a repackaging, simulation, or copycat of what has been done by the Lord. In this case, Solar Cells are a simulation of photo-synthesis. Psalm 1:3, Jer 17:5-10.
Our inventions are always inferior to THE ORIGINATOR’S.
We can go down a list of other examples of THE ORIGINATOR and the corresponding imitator. The airplane is a copycat of the bird (Isa 40:31). The camera is an imitation of the eye. A robot’s arm is a repackaging of the human arm. Man-made light is an imitation of God’s LIGHT.
Our solar cells cannot store energy like plants can. We have to use an external source like a battery to store the energy that plants do without the extra parts. Solar cells are not alive so they cannot regenerate themselves from a seed to make another one. Instead, our inventions and industries often have a negative impact in the large scheme of things.
Nevertheless, our mission when we make inventions is for redemption purposes. We desire to solve an existing problem. We desire to make the life experience of our offspring/humanity better than ours (Parable of the Good Samaritan). We aim for our children/dependents to benefit from the life lessons that we have learned. We are told to do so throughout the Scriptures. This is from Adam’s assignment in the garden of Eden: the parable of the sower played over and over. However, there are four common responses to the Truth.
Proverbs 13:22: A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. In God’s book, a good man thinks generationally. He does not just prepare for his children’s future, but for his grandchildren’s.
The idea of the pledge in Deuteronomy 24:9-15 is a directive to have technology for hire (1Kings 5:5-6). It tells us not to re-invent the wheel, instead we build from the experiences of others (Prov 1:5). This way both cooperatives benefit. Our children benefit. When I put my hammer out for hire, my neighbor gets further in his endeavors because he is not preoccupied with making a hammer.
It is the Wisdom of God that creates the commercialization/industrialization of our modern world. Only the Lord can walk the delicate line between oppression, exploitation vs dereliction, irresponsibility. The American patent system is built upon the ideas of one being used to help others (like the pledge), without taking advantage of either party. The weight scale (Deut 25:13-16) is a symbol of this delicate balance.
Our emphasis should be on THE CREATOR, and not on the provisions of THE CREATOR. Our eyes should be on the GIVER and not exclusively focused on the gifts. See these verses for a timely reminder: Deut 6:7, Matt 6:33, Ps 100: 3, Rom 1:25, 1Cor4:7, Jn3:27, Jn 15:4-5, Isa 44:1-20
