This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
(Matthew 20:1-16 ERV)
1 “God’s kingdom is like a man who owned some land. One morning, the man went out very early to hire some people to work in his vineyard.
2 He agreed to pay the workers one silver coin for working that day. Then he sent them into the vineyard to work.
3 “About nine o’clock the man went to the marketplace and saw some other people standing there. They were doing nothing.
4 So he said to them, ‘If you go and work in my field, I will pay you what your work is worth.’
5 So they went to work in the vineyard. “The man went out again about twelve o’clock and again at three o’clock. Both times he hired some others to work in his vineyard.
6 About five o’clock the man went to the marketplace again. He saw some other people standing there. He asked them, ‘Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?’
7 “They said, ‘No one gave us a job.’ “The man said to them, ‘Then you can go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “At the end of the day, the owner of the field said to the boss of all the workers, ‘Call the workers and pay them all. Start by paying the last people I hired. Then pay all of them, ending with the ones I hired first.’
9 “The workers who were hired at five o’clock came to get their pay. Each worker got one silver coin.
10 Then the workers who were hired first came to get their pay. They thought they would be paid more than the others. But each one of them also received one silver coin.
11 When they got their silver coin, they complained to the man who owned the land.
12 They said, ‘Those people were hired last and worked only one hour. But you paid them the same as us. And we worked hard all day in the hot sun.’
13 “But the man who owned the field said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am being fair with you. You agreed to work for one silver coin. Right?
14 So take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same pay I gave you.
15 I can do what I want with my own money. Why would you be jealous because I am generous?’
16 “So those who are last now will be first in the future. And those who are first now will be last in the future.”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Generosity is in the heart of God.
— The parables Jesus taught us to understand the heart of God. In this parable (the parable of the workers), we get a glimpse into how gracious and generous God is.
— When you walk with God and are led by His Spirit, you quickly realize that God’s kingdom operates on principles of grace and generosity, often defying our human concepts of fairness.
— The landowner’s actions reflect God’s character: He is extravagantly generous and not limited by human standards. Simply put, God does not just give us what we deserve, and we should ALL be thankful for that! If God only gave us what we deserved, we would all be men and women most miserable!
— This parable challenges us to shift our perspective from what we believe we deserve to appreciate the grace (unmerited favor) we receive.
— God’s generosity is not a response to our efforts; it’s a reflection of His nature.
— The landowner’s equal payment to all workers illustrates that God values our participation in His Kingdom, regardless of the duration or timing. In other words, it does not matter how long you have been saved, God is just thankful that you are in His Kingdom!
— In God’s kingdom, the reward is not based on comparison but on His grace and calling.
— This generosity serves as a reminder that in God’s economy, the last are as important as the first, and the first as the last. Praise God for that!
2. The Sovereignty of God in Calling.
— In the parable of the workers, the landowner’s multiple trips to hire workers throughout the day symbolize God’s continuous call to humanity. God wants everyone to be saved, even though He knows most will not accept the invitation.
— God’s call is not restricted by time; He reaches out to everyone, regardless of the stage or season of life they find themselves in. Young or old, rich or poor, male or female, God just wants the lost to respond to His call!
— God’s calling is inclusive, extending an invitation to all, regardless of their background or current situation.
— The late hiring of workers demonstrates that it’s never too late to respond to God’s call.
— The landowner’s initiative to hire workers reflects God’s proactive nature in seeking us out. I know God sent a bunch of people to me, urging me to respond to His call, before I did. I am thankful that He never gave me on me.
— Our response to God’s call should be one of gratitude and humility, recognizing His sovereignty and grace. For those who have answered the call, THANK GOD that He kept pursuing you until you did. For those who have not answered the call yet, it’s not too late. Answer today. If there is still air in your lungs, then God is trying to get you to say “YES” to his will for your life!
3. The Challenge Against Envy and Comparison.
— In the parable of the workers, the disgruntled workers represent a human tendency to
compare and measure our journey against others.
— Comparison is part of human nature. We were born that way. Thankfully, we can be Born-Again!
— This parable teaches us to focus on our relationship with God rather than comparing our blessings with others.
— Envy and comparison can blind us to the generosity and grace we have already received.
— When we covet what God is doing in the life of someone else, we are failing to be thankful for what he is doing in our own.
— The landowner’s response to the complaining workers highlights the importance of contentment and trust in God’s decisions. God is God, and He will do what He planned to do from the foundations of the world. He is not going to change for us, responding to our complaints. No, we need to learn how to be content with what He called us to do!
— We are called to celebrate others’ blessings as we recognize that God’s resources and generosity are limitless.
— Walking with God is not a “zero-sum game.” The term “zero-sum game” speaks to situations where resources are limited. In this type of situation, no wealth is created or destroyed. Therefore, in a two-player zero-sum game, whatever one player wins, the other loses. But God’s Kingdom is not this way at all. God’s resources never run out. So you are free to celebrate when someone else is winning, beucase it does not mean you are losing. In God’s Kingdom, there is enough to go around. WE CAN ALL WIN!
— Getting a revelation and understanding of this encourages a community where we rejoice in each other’s successes and blessings.
— Overcoming envy requires a heart transformation, focusing on gratitude and God’s unique path for each of us. Said another way, once God changes your heart (by His Spirit and His Word), you won’t be upset when someone else is winning. Your trust in God for your own path will be so strong that you can build them up without tearing yourself down. And you can celebrate them in earnest because you know that what God has for you is for you!
4. The Reflection of God’s Unconditional Love.
— In the parable of the workers, the landowner’s equal treatment of all workers, regardless of their working hours, mirrors God’s unconditional love for us.
— This parable illustrates that God’s love and grace are not earned but freely given.
— God’s love is not based on our performance or the length of our service but on His unchanging nature and unearned grace.
— The story encourages us to extend the same unconditional love to others, breaking down barriers of judgment and prejudice.
— Understanding God’s unconditional love for us empowers us to serve Him with a pure heart, free from ulterior motives.
— This unconditional love is the foundation of our faith, inspiring us to trust in God’s plans and purposes for our lives.
— Embracing God’s unconditional love leads to a life of gratitude, service, community, and a deeper relationship with Him.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me! I boldly declare:
I stand in awe of Your incredible generosity and unconditional love.
I recognize that Your ways are beyond my understanding, and Your grace extends far beyond what I could ever deserve.
I am grateful for Your sovereign call in my life, and I embrace it with humility and gratitude.
Father, help me to overcome the tendencies of envy and comparison. Transform my heart to one of contentment and trust in Your perfect plans.
Teach me to rejoice in the blessings of others, knowing that in Your kingdom, there is abundance for us all.
I commit to reflecting Your unconditional love in my interactions with others. Help me to love without judgment or prejudice, serving with a pure heart motivated by Your example.
May my life be a testament to Your grace, a beacon of hope and love in a world that desperately needs it.
Living this way, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
