WED. 10/7
Read Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
This is a challenging teaching. We read this powerful lesson told through one of Jesus' simple stories. Here toward the end of Matthew’s gospel we read ‘The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard’. But there is a twist in this story. According to vs. 15 part of the reason the early workers were angry with the master was because of his generosity. Didn’t see that coming - now did you. Sometimes God's grace to others seems unfair. But we like it when it comes our way - don't we?
Reflect
Questions
Why do we find it irritating if someone gets more or better than they deserve?
Why do we find it irritating if someone gets more or better than they deserve?
Read the passage again slowly. Did the Master do anything wrong in paying all the workers the same amount?
Can you find it in your heart to be happy for someone else’s good fortune and blessings?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to be more like You. I need your forgiveness for all the times I have been petty and jealous of others. In light of your grace - undeserved merit - given to me through faith in you, I should be more gracious toward others. Shake me up. Make me new. Give me a more and more generous heart. Amen.
Memory Verse
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 NIV
Share
Gather some family friends together and read the passage. Then ask this question:
How can we learn to be happy when God blesses others? How can we show our support and cheer others on in life?
DFM Nation
Next Sunday Pastor Shane Bengry will dive into more in depth teaching on how to overcome Sloth with Diligence. Take a moment to pray for and invite someone.
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