St Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 14b, The choice is mine.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard)
Part 21.

We continue with this parable of the laborers and the house-holder.  The laborers are angry.  They are disgruntled.  Those that were last to get paid thought that they should get paid more than those who only worked for a short time.  They were the ones who worked the entire day.  They were the ones who worked the longest and bore the heat of the day in their labor.  So when they saw that those who came after them got the same pay as they, they were mad and angry about their agreement. 

They felt that they were cheated and deceived.  They believed that, even though they agreed to a denarius, they deserved more for their labor.  What changed their minds?  What caused them to think otherwise?  What influenced them to the point that they became angry and disgruntled?  The house-holder told them to take what was theirs and leave because he did them no injustice.  He told them:  "I choose to give to this last even as to thee." 

The choice was his to make.  He decided that all would be paid the same even from the first to the last.  He was a generous house-holder.  He demonstrated to the laborers that he wanted them to work in his vineyard even if it was only for one hour.  And the reward would be the same for each and every laborer.  His judgment was not like our judgment.  We would think that those who worked the longest would get paid more.  We would think that those who came first would receive a greater reward.  We would think that because they labored more that they should receive more.  But this was not the thought processes of the house-holder.  He wanted all to work and he paid all the same.

What can we learn from this parable?  What does it demonstrate to us?  Christ told his disciples that the kingdom of heaven is like a house-holder who goes out to the marketplace to hire workers to labor in his vineyard.  We are laborers in the vineyard of the Lord.  Our job is to carry the message of love and hope to those who are without hope, those who do not believe, those who have no direction or purpose in life.  We are the workers.  We are the laborers and it is our job to demonstrate to the world the love of God that is within us.

Our work is not easy.  It is not without trials and tribulations.  For there are those who hate us.  There are those who would destroy us.  There are those who would turn us from our labors and attempt to convince us that our labors are futile.  They do not believe.  They do not know.  They are the ones that are influenced by the world and what is in the world.  Ours is the influence of our Father in heaven who loves us, provides for us, and protects us.  The choice was the house-holder as to what he would give.  The choice is God our Father as to who he chooses and who he does not, who he rewards and who he does not.

Let us go forth and be glad that we are chosen.  Let us rejoice that he has chosen us to work in his vineyard.  For he is a just God.  He is a loving God.  He is our Father, our creator, and through Christ our Lord, our redeemer.  The choice is his to make.  Are you chosen?  Come, seek the Lord and he will choose you.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you.  Open the door and let him in.   

St Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 14a, Take what is thine and go.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard)
Part 20.

We come to this part of the parable where the house-holder speaks to the laborers directly concerning their anger and their frustration about their pay.  They have come to believe that they were cheated.  Their minds were influenced by a belief that they deserved more than they agreed to from the beginning.  They saw others come in and work.  They believed that they would receive less.  But when the time came for payment they received the same as those who came before them and worked less.

They saw themselves deserving more.  They saw themselves as being cheated.  They saw themselves as being underpaid even though they agreed to do the labor for a denarius.  Who was at fault?  Who committed a wrong?  Did they deserve more?  Was that the issue or did they compare themselves to others to determine that they deserved more?  The house-holder spoke to them and told them:  "Take what is thine and go." 

What was theirs?  What belonged to them?  What did they own?  They agreed to a denarius when they were hired in the market place and that was what was theirs.  They believed that it was a fair wage for a days work.  So the contract for labor was agreed upon and signed when they went to work.  It was only after they were in the fields, saw others come in after them, and watched as they were paid the same amount that they became dissatisfied and disgruntled.  What would you do?  If you agreed to do a specific task for a fixed amount, would you be disgruntled if you saw others come and do less work and get paid the same amount?  Most would say yes!

Christ tells this parable to his disciples to warn them of the dangers of making comparisons.  He wanted them to know that they would be challenged to compare what they were being offered to what they would receive.  He wanted them to be aware of how evil would challenge them, to weaken them, and to open them up to being influenced.  Knowledge of oneself in the eyes of Christ defends against the outside influence.  Knowing the life that Christ has given to us and the value of that life cannot compare to anything that this world has to offer. 

Evil tempted Christ in the desert and offered him the kingdoms of this world if he would only bow down in worship.  Evil will do the same to us if we do not know who we are in Christ.  It will come and influence.  It will come and tempt.  It will come in and bring anger, and mistrust and disbelief and finally open the door to being controlled.  And when that control takes over one will do what is suggested to get what is being offered by it.

Christ came and opened the door to the kingdom that all could enter.  He gave us a path.  He showed us the way.  He left a message, a book, a light, so that we could find our way home.  And when we come to realize and understand who we are and the path to our destiny, nothing can stand in our way to receive our peace and happiness.  The Advocate will lead the way.  The Advocate will be our guide.  The Advocate will be our council everyday to help us make good decisions as we walk by faith along the path to the kingdom.  Your path is before you.  You can find the way.  Look within and see the light of life given you by Christ.  Seek to know him and you will see.  His love will come and touch you to let you know that he is there waiting for you.  Open your heart and let him in.  Come!  See the true you that is within and let no one or nothing separate you from the love that the Father has for you.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you.  Open the door and let him in.