Celebration and Unity

Prayer

We are continuing our series called Conflicted…how do we navigate a world where no body wants to get along…The first week we talked about in order to move from conflicted to peace we need to believe that all things are in fact possible through Jesus who strengthens us. Then last week we talked about how Our ability to heal is intimately wrapped up in our ability to forgive ALL who have intentionally or unintentionally brought any pain in our lives.

Today we are going to talk about the power of a kind heart over comparison.

Matthew 20:1-16 NLT

Matthew 20:1–16 NLT

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. 3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing. 6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ 7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’ 8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ 13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’ 16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

Brian is one of the most generous people I know. It was common place for him to pick up the tab for dinner for almost all the people in a restaurant. He is the first to give to those in need, he always looks for ways to help others. I have been on the receiving end of his generosity more times than I can count.

So when he got his new toy a Big Bear Chopper I was extremely happy for him. I still remember hearing him ride up in front of my house when he got it so we could go for a ride together. He was smiling from ear to ear shinning up the red and silver gas tank with a soft rag. He was as happy as I had every seen him and he was generally happy.

I was genuinely happy for him. However after a few weeks I noticed that when he was riding he was not riding his new toy instead he was riding his touring bike at first I didn’t think anything of it. Maybe he just wanted to keep both in working order…but on one ride in which he again did not ride the chopper I asked him why?

He said “He was not riding it as much becuase some people were complaining about what a show off he was riding his fancy bike around a town when most could not afford such a bike.” I was heartbroken when I heard this come from him. Then I was angry wondering why in the world people would be so hateful to a person who never hesitated to give to others just becuase he was able to have something that others may not be able to.

The jealousy Trap…the Comparison Trap:

We have all encountered this type of jealousy at least once in our lives. We have all had people that were so focused on why we did not deserve the things we have. or the job that we have or even the respect we have from others.

When these things happen to us even though many of us have mastered the art of moving on the words or the thoughts that someone really believes that we are not worthy really hurts us.

However people who live this way are also wounded even though they may not realize it.

Living a life of comparison or jealousy is a trap designed by the devil to keep you and I conflicted about life.

This is the mentality that we see in this passage…the workers were focused so much on the fact that those who did not work as long were getting the same pay that they were unable to be happy themselves.

They were offended and began to believe a conspiracy that the landowner was out to cheat them.

The landowners only concern here was the care of his vineyard. He was not looking to show off how much money he had nor was he trying to shortchange anyone he just needed people to do the work that needed to be done.

Had he paid the latecomers a cut rate those who worked all day would not have complained at all…but seeing others benefit from the landowners kindness was offensive to them even though in reality the landowner was paying a proper wage.

Isn’t it interesting how comparison can lead us so quickly to conspiracy?

God is generous, giving, and abundant in kindness. This parable is a reflection of God’s heart toward all of us not just those who worked the longest or hardest.

This was evident by the fact that he paid the last hired the same as he did the first. The landowner could have paid the last workers what would have been seen as literally pennies for their work…but instead he generously compensated them…

This parable comes between two major events.

One at the end of chapter 19 and one toward the end of chapter 20. We have the rich young man ask Jesus what he must do to be saved, only to turn away grieving because he had many possessions he was being asked to part with.

Then we see the disciples in verses 20: 25-27 saying, “How are we to be saved? Look, we have left everything and followed you Will you reward us more for our early adoption of you as Messiah?”

Both the rich young man and the disciples were asking about whats in it for them to follow Jesus.

They wanted to know what positions of power they would receive from Jesus so that they could set their own terms with him. Jesus is really answering these questions with this parable…

He is saying no one gets more or less than everything Jesus has to offer.

The Landowner which represents God in this story reminds the workers that everything that is his is under his authority to do with whatever he wants.

What gets lost here because of the anger of he workers is the landowner is choosing to give generously to all not hoard anything for himself which is his right.

When God expresses His right to do what God wants, it always results in generosity toward all of us not just a select few.

This passage answers the questions of who deserves more....No one deserves the benefits of the Kingdom. Some have worked longer and harder than others, but the reward of the messianic banquet is offered to all without regard to the work they have done.

Now this should not come as a blow to us but as a blessing. If God’s desire for all of human kind to to be citizens of the Kingdom of God then it stands to reason that we all should celebrate and unite instead of disregard and compare.

Celebration and Unity lead to not only peace but a freedom from a conflicted spirit.

How can we practice Kind Heartedness and Unity this week so we can experience the Freedom from comparison that I have talked about?

Pray that God would replace a skeptical heart with a heart for all people…even if you are not alike.

Find ways to celebrate someone else's good fortune without coveting more for yourself.

In practicing these two things...not just this week but until they become second nature.....You will not only find a freedom to be content but you will find the freedom to be happy even though things are not exactly how you would have liked them to be....

Things will never be how you pictured them to be for the most part but happiness is not tied to those things they are connected to accepting and living out the generosity of Jesus.

After this parable, Jesus tells his disciples the third and final time that he is headed to Jerusalem to be handed over, to be flogged, crucified, and be raised again.

Such is the fate of the vineyard owner. This is God’s act of salvation for all—whether they are hired first or last. This is God’s generosity at work! 

This is one of the things we come to the table to honor…God’s generosity to us no matter where we are on the journey.

Communion