Lessons from the Vineyard

Gleanings from the Vineyard....

(Defeating Pride, Learning Humility)

Matthew 20:8-16. “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.

But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’

So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

This teaching of Yeshua is hard for some to choke down. You see, we humans have our own exalted sense of “morality”, which includes an idea of “fairness”. And we tend to judge each other, and even GOD by THAT self-designed standard. Instead of humbly submitting ourselves to HIS higher standard of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which goes way beyond the limitations of our “moral correctness”.

The meaning of this teaching is that GOD has the last say! HE alone is capable and worthy of deciding who gets what! We don't get to sign up for His Kingdom, by taking the sacrifices of His Only Son, (which most of church going humanity has treated as our “get out of hell free card”) and then tell HIM HIS BUSINESS! That is NOT how this works. But it IS how most of us have treated this business of “Christianity”!

When, what Yeshua is saying, is that we should take the attitude of the Prodigal son, who, finally, “came to himself”. Meaning that he took full ownership & responsibility for his foolish misuse of the blessings of his father's inheritance. After doing so, he decided to humbly ask to be allowed to serve his father, and receive the rewards of his father's servants. Because his father, being a good man, treated even his servants with kindness and generosity.

We, like him, need to realize that we are not worthy to be called sons! It is entirely HIS GIFT of mercy to us! Due to our rebellious nature, and former life choices, we voided that right! But then, when, like the Father in the story, HE embraces us anyway, and puts a royal robe and signet ring on our fingers, we should gladly and humbly rejoice in His great grace, mercy and love! And determine to serve Him all the more loyally, for the privilege of being given room to serve HIM! But we don't get to demand ANYTHING for our “service”. We don't get to hold GOD accountable to our cheap standards of fairness. There is SO much we don't see! So much WE don't know! We dare not take the attitude of telling GOD His business.

We should take what He gives with an attitude of pure gratitude, for including US in HIS PLAN, AT ALL! We should just be rejoicing every day, that Yeshua paid us out of debt, and we are no longer slaves to sin, unless we willing submit to it. We have been given the privilege to be called SONS & DAUGHTERS of THE MOST HIGH GOD, our loving Heavenly FATHER! We are no longer orphans, doomed to a life of slavery to the cruelest task master living – our own rotten flesh. Leading us toward death one minute, then denigrating us for following! Why would we tolerate that ever?! Go figure!

In this season of celebration, let's keep focused on the birth of THE ONE, who bought us such favor. Let's keep a heart of gratitude toward our loving Father, Who went to such lengths to include US in this celebration. And let's not get into negativity, like comparing ourselves to others, or attempting to judge anyone, but especially God, by our own limited, foolish standards of faux “morality”. The flesh is a mesh, meant to filter out god, and trap our souls. It is time we put that down now, and picked up the opportunity to LIVE in HIS KINGDOM, in REAL HOLINESS, which is miles above our low standards of “fairness”. Let's admit that HE IS GOD, HE created US, not the other way around, and it is HIS opinion that matters in the end – as well as the beginning, and all the time in between. It is time to get hold of HIS TRUTH, that, if we DO choose LIFE according to HIS STANDARDS there is no end! But a blissful forever to look forward to.

YeHoVaH, HE IS GOD. We are not. That is the reality, should we choose to receive it. But our actions and words need to reflect that choice this holiday season, and beyond.

Shalom Haverim, Chag Sameach Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and an Adventure filled NEW year. As we practice that old mantra – OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW!

The Spirit of God has something NEW in mind this year. Be ready. You don't want to miss this. ;)

SCD

12/9/22