{"id":1221,"date":"2014-11-26T23:23:00","date_gmt":"2014-11-26T23:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kinshipradio.org\/home\/2014\/11\/26\/thanksgiving-2\/"},"modified":"2014-11-26T23:23:00","modified_gmt":"2014-11-26T23:23:00","slug":"thanksgiving-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kinshipradio.org\/home\/thanksgiving-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanksgiving"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I recently had the privilege of listening to a sermon about envy in which the pastor used the parable of the workers who all received a day\u2019s wage no matter how long they worked. (Matthew 20:1-16)<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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When the workers were paid at the end of the day, the ones who complained were those who worked all day, not those who received a full day\u2019s pay for only two hours\u2019 work. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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In a way, it was unjust. It was unfair– but not to the people who worked all day. They got what they deserved and what they agreed to.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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It was unjust to those who only worked a short time but received a full day\u2019s pay.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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The landowner argues that it\u2019s his money and he can do with it whatever he wants. \u201cOr do you begrudge me my generosity?\u201d he says.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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And there it is. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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Why is it that we think another person\u2019s good fortune somehow cheats us? Is it because we view the world with only so many pieces of pie? Is it that if someone gets more than us we are certain it will somehow diminish the number of pie slices in our pie bank account? <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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But that\u2019s not true at all. As a country, we have far more pie per person than at any other time in history. We have better health, bigger houses, better cars, and more of just about everything than our parents did. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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Truly, we have more to be thankful for than ever before.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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And yet, we are largely unsatisfied. We continue to strive for more and more. <\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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As our daily bread falls from heaven, we gather it up. And even though we have more, it\u2019s not our supplies that increase–it\u2019s our desires.  <\/span>It\u2019s a never-ending viscous circle.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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But the parable is not about our stuff, or even our daily bread.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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What Jesus was saying with this parable was that those who come to believe, even at the last minute before death, will receive the same amount of eternal life in heaven as those who have believed since childhood. Some Bible commentators also conclude it\u2019s about salvation for the Gentiles, who do not have the long history of belief in God the Jews did.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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But no one I know begrudges the LORD this generosity. Yes! Lord, we say let all<\/i> who come to believe worship you forever!<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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And when I consider the parable, it strikes me as just a little bit prophetic for what would later happen between Jesus and the thief on the cross next to Him.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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\u201cAnd He said to him, \u201cTruly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.\u201d<\/b> (Luke 23:43 ESV)<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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The thief, even though he lived a sinful life, comes to belief and repentance at the last minutes of that miserable life and he will enjoy the full reward of life and joy in heaven forever<\/i>.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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It\u2019s not fair.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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The thief doesn\u2019t deserve it. Presumably, he didn\u2019t strive against sin and temptation his whole life. He didn\u2019t go to church every Sunday and tithe and feed widows and orphans. If he visited anyone in prison, it was probably one of his fellow criminals. He didn\u2019t do any of the things \u201cgood Christians\u201d should do. He says so himself, admitting he is receiving the just consequences of his actions. (Luke 23:41)<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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True, it\u2019s not fair. He doesn\u2019t deserve it.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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But none of us do<\/u>. <\/o:p><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n

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That\u2019s why it\u2019s called \u201cgrace.\u201d<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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On this Thanksgiving, LORD, I thank you for the most precious, wonderful, amazing gift of all\u2014the grace you showed us in sending your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, to rise again, to take away all our sins and give us eternal life. Amen.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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Today\u2019s Praise<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n

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All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.<\/b> (2 Corinthians 4:15 NIV)<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n

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