The Parable of the Generous Master

"Have you ever felt like no matter what you do, it's never enough? Have you ever compared yourself with others and felt shortchanged by the success they've seemingly acquired effortlessly?

If you haven't, chances are, someone you know has, because, as humans, we tend to look at every opportunity from the perspective of merit, effort, and reward. While the values of these bifocals make rational sense, today's parable carries with it a radically different foundational principle: that God relates to us not based on our works or accomplishments, but simply by His constant, unfailing love and grace. So today, let us explore together the highlights of 'The Parable of the Generous Master', learning lessons on how the grace of the master should change the way we serve, interact, and love people around us."

Theme: God's grace is not dependent on our works, but on His generosity.

Matthew 20:1–16

1 “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?’ 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.”

God's grace is not based on works but on His generosity towards us.

A. When we come to Him in utter dependence, He gives generously.

James 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Psalm 84:11 “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

God wants to bless you and lavish his love over you, he wants to know that you are fully dependent on Him or are you trusting in other things?

B. The generosity of the master was expressed first, before the workers ever lifted a hand.

Matthew 20:11 “When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner,”

Have you ever complained about what God has blessed you with?

C. He chose to bless us with salvation and access to the kingdom of heaven.

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”

Everything you could ever want is available in God.

We were chosen

The reality of God's grace should transform the way we work and serve Him.

A. We can serve Him wholeheartedly without the pressure or fear of losing His love

2 Timothy 1:9 “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,”

B. Since our reward is not dependent on works, we should serve with joy regardless of how insignificant the task may seem

Colossians 3:23–24 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

C. Our service to God is all about giving glory to Him, not gaining accolades for ourselves

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Our response to God's grace should not be self-centered, but reflect the generous master we serve.

A. We should be agents of grace, freely distributing it to others as we have been given without merit.

We are a reflection of the grace we have received.

Think about someone you want to change. We naturally believe that they don’t deserve it. Neither did we…

That person should be our mission field…

B. By seeking to demonstrate generosity to others, we become vessels of God's love on earth.

Loving generously is not easy…

C. Working together with God for the harvest should be the main goal because we are all equal in salvation thanks to His love.

Philippians 2:3–4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Conclusion:

Because God is the ultimate giver of grace our labour his mercy and suffering is not in vain whatsoever we do and wherever we are All is tantamount to prove our faithfulness in what He has blessed us with.