SWARTZ
CREEK MI – (ANS)- It’s all over the news now, the
disparity between the “99 per cent” and the “One per cent”
– or, rather, the resentment and envy that the majority is supposed to harbor
against the more wealthy. It is at the core of the “Occupy” crowds’
chants and signs.

Theodore Roosevelt correctly
observed that the sin of envy is no less a sin than that of greed. And years
ago, a friend from France once gave me the best definition of Socialism
(therefore, its most potent pushback). Francois Mitterand had been elected
president in his country; the Socialists were coming to power; and among their
proposals, in the name of equality, was the abolition of First-Class seats on
public transportation.

“Why is it that the Socialists
never want to abolish anything that is second-class?” my friend asked.

That riposte has come to mind when
hearing so often lately of the Ninety-Nine versus the One per cents.
“Versus” is the operative word; a campaign to raise the civic
temperature. But something else has come to mind — that Jesus had a different
take on the numbers of 99 and one. Nothing to do with current politics. except
as those numbers provide a shout-out to our souls.

Let us remember Christ’s parable of
the Lost Sheep. It is found in Luke 15:4-7. The gentle shepherd had a flock of
100, but one had gone astray. And he set out to search, high and low, far and
wide, for that wayward sheep. The sheep was found, rescued, and restored to the
shepherd’s flock.

Many of us have the natural reaction
to think that the sensible thing would have been to play safe with the
ninety-nine. A similar impulse, in the other parable of the Prodigal Son, is to
observe that the other son was slighted after all of his work and obedience,
while his errant brother was feted by the father upon his return.

Our problem as humans is that we
tend to see ourselves as members of the flock of ninety-nine. “What is one
sheep against so many?” We get proud of our accomplishments, jealous of
others receiving favor. Our bigger problem is that God sees us as that Lost
Sheep, and the son who departed and sinned — not as we see ourselves.

Heaven rejoices when one sinner is
saved, when the Good Shepherd has restored the wayward. Our Heavenly Father
arranges a lavish feast when we return. In each case we are not rewarded for
straying: we are forgiven when we return.

“Lord, Thou hast here Thy
ninety and nine–
Are they not enough for Thee?”
But the Shepherd made answer, “This of Mine
Has wandered away from Me;
And although the road be rough and steep
I go to the desert to find My sheep.”

Jesus not only seeks us out; He
persists. For us to be as THAT “one percenter” we should be grateful.
and can take assurance. Occupy God’s flock.

+ + +

“The Ninety and Nine” was
written as a children’s poem by Elizabeth Clephane in 1868. The great
hymn-writer Ira D Sankey read it when on a Dwight L Moody crusade in Scotland
three decades later; he tucked it into his vest pocket. That evening Moody
preached on “The Good Shepherd,” and asked Sankey, his worship
leader, to sing a hymn. Sankey remembered that poem in his pocket, took it out,
and sang this song impromptu, forming the music as he went. It is now a
standard of the church.

Click: The Ninety and Nine

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About Rick Marschall

Rick Marschall is the author of more than 60 books and hundreds of
magazine articles in many fields, from popular culture (Bostonia
Magazine called him “perhaps America’s foremost authority on popular
culture”) to history and criticism; country music, television history,
biography and children’s books. He is a former political cartoonist,
editor of Marvel Comics, and writer for Disney comics. For 10 years he
has been active in the Christian field, writing devotionals;
co-authoring The Secret Revealed with Dr Jim Garlow; and writing a
biography of Johann Sebastian Bach for the “Christian Encounters”
series to be published by Thomas Nelson (2011). Rick is a former
Director of Product Development for Youth Specialties. He is recipient
of the 2008 “Christian Writer of the Year” award from the Greater
Philadelphia Writer’s Conference, and produces a weekly e-mail
devotional, “Monday Morning Music Ministry.” His e-mail address is: AmericaCiv@aol.com.

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