Scripture
"When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. These men 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." (Matthew 20:11-12)
Observation
We have tendency to grumble against the things that don't make sense to us don't we. If we in the faith are not careful, the scriptures tell us that our grumbling will demote us and disqualify us to last place. In this parable Jesus shares with us the heart of God and how God sees us. The Lords will is that all be saved, all come into inheritance, all receive eternal life. Salvation has the same value as salvation, but some of us who find it first feel the need for more reward. We see this in the church all the time where Christians who have been around the Church a long time, feel they deserve extra rights or say in the church. It gets really hard for them some times when young passionate Christians get all the accolades instead of them. We grumble, get critical, and often marginalize any young Christian that might out shine us.
What Jesus is saying here, is be careful not to misunderstand or mis-define Gods values. Our own insecurities or lack of understanding can lead us quickly to take offense and grumble against Gods doings. I remember when the people of Israel started to grumble in the desert, it turned their hearts back to Egypt, and they many of them never entered into the promises of God. There was also that time Jesus went into His home town and the people took offense at Him because He was from there. They didn't understand how one from their community could become the Son of God. Scripture tells us that Jesus could do no great miracle because of the offense they took.
Application
I realize there will be many things that won't make sense to me, or things God will do that I don't understand. God will raise up people that are humble and oppose people who are proud. God can do what ever He wants and I don't ever want to demote my own faith through grumbling about things that I don't understand. The best thing I can do is get closer to the heart of Christ. Isn't it true we can misunderstand people if we don't know their heart. But when we know someone's heart its really hard to misunderstand them. I am encouraged this morning to take all the things I don't understand in life, and bring them to the feet of Christ. There may be times when He will answer my questions, but even if He doesn't He has the right to give or with hold from me, whatever He wants.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Just to serve you is a privilege in itself. I never want to think that I deserve more when you've already given me everything. I never want to allow my insecurities or things I don't understand to disqualify me to last place. Lord, you don't even measure by first or last, but value all your children the same. But I can see how my own misunderstandings will misplace me, and it doesn't matter how long I've been walking with you. Thank you for the privilege to serve you, that's more than enough for me!
