Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that in his community, God does not give us what we earn?
How can society exist where the hardest working people don't get the biggest pay off? Would you want to live in such a community where you work 8 hours and get paid the same as someone who only works 1 hour? This just isn't fair. Right? Well... such is the community of God...
Matthew 19:30 - 20:16 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' 9 When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Do we ignore Jesus' teaching that God is not fair - that God does not give us what we deserve - that God is generous? Do we ignore Jesus' warning that God is going to be generous to those who show up last? Are we okay with that? How does this affect how we live? Should we be more generous to the newcomer in our church community than the old timer who has worked hard and earned their place in our community?
“Jesus is Lord” is a radical claim. One in which we pledge our lives to follow him. And yet, most of us ignore the teachings of Jesus. We reimagine him so that he fits neatly into our world instead of letting him change our entire way of being. This blog was a devotional that walked through the gospel of Matthew (and a little into Mark)identifying where we are ignoring Jesus. And inviting him to change us.
Note to Readers...
Dear Friends,
Although the contents of this blog have been preserved below, new postings to this blog ended on January 3, 2011. But please checkout my new blog: "Embracing Jesus."
April
Although the contents of this blog have been preserved below, new postings to this blog ended on January 3, 2011. But please checkout my new blog: "Embracing Jesus."
April
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