Title Have you forgotten anything?
Contents
♡♥♡ Have you forgotten anything?
*** Introduction
Do you like dogs? do you like cats?
Dogs and cats are animals that people love. But in general, dogs are cuter than cats. There are various reasons, but it is said that a cat is arrogant, but if he treats you well ten times and makes you sad once, it remembers only the sadness and keeps away from its owner. However, it is said that even if a dog makes you sad ten times, if you do it well once, it will remember that one time and follow its owner.
Even among people, when there are ten good things, and when they encounter one difficult thing, there are people who are bound by it and feel resentful or terrified. God said the Israelites in the wilderness were like this. With great miracles and power, God freed Israel from slavery in Egypt and gave them unfathomable grace in the wilderness. However, the Israelites were always complaining and resenting that the road was rough, they wanted meat, and there was no water. And whenever he had a chance, he did something absurd and hurt God's heart. In Numbers 14:22, God says, “When they saw my glory and the miracles I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, they thus tempted me ten times and did not obey my voice.”
Have you ever forgotten God's grace? Let's think about whether there is anything we are forgetting through the text we read and what our attitude toward God should be.
1. Let's unpack the contents of the text again.
The text is the parable of the laborers in the vineyard given by the Lord. He is teaching the laws of the kingdom of God by showing the vineyard owner the process of bringing in laborers into the vineyard and paying them the price.
The owner of the vineyard gathered laborers early in the morning (6 a.m. when work began) and promised to bring them into the vineyard with a promise of “a denarius a day’s wage.” However, when I went to the market around 9:00 am, I saw people standing there with nothing to do. They promised, ‘I will give you a fair amount,’ and they also let them into the vineyard. Even at twelve o'clock and three o'clock in the afternoon, the owner of the vineyard saw those who were standing there playing and sent them into the vineyard without any promise. Now, even at 5pm (an hour before the end of workday), when the sun is slowly setting, there were still people standing around with nothing to do. The owner of the vineyard asked, “Why have you been standing here playing all day?” They answered, "No one uses us as laborers!" The owner, having pity on them, also let them into the vineyard without any promise.
It was 6:00 PM, the end of the work day. The owner of the vineyard instructs the steward, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages.' Daily wages were paid from the person who came in last and worked only one hour. The steward gave them a denarius each. Those who came in first saw this and said, ‘These people who worked only one hour got a denarius, so we’ll get more money because we came in first!’ However, those who came at 3pm were also paid a denarius, and those who arrived at noon were also paid a denarius. In the end, the first people who came in and worked 12 hours also got a denarius. Those who came in first complained and resented the owner. “These men who came last worked only an hour, and they made them like us, who endured toil and heat all day long!” That is, it is unfair. Do you understand their complaints?
The master said to the grumbling laborers, “Friend, I have done nothing wrong to you. Didn't you promise me a denarius? Take yours with you. It is my will to give to this man who has come later with you. Aren't you supposed to do what I want with what is mine? Do you look evil because I am good? In the same way, the last became first, and the first became last.”
2. Let's look at the meaning the Lord was trying to teach.
1) There is a meaning to the calling.
Each of the laborers is called by the master at different times. However, take a closer look at the way you look when you are called. They do not have their own strength or effort. Because the call to life is entirely by the grace of God. We did not choose God, but God chose us. In John 15:16, the Lord said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you… ” he said.
God does not call people by evaluating their abilities, talents, possessions, or learning. The call is entirely dependent on the grace of God. Therefore, those who are called have nothing to boast about. See 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. “Behold, brethren, the calling of you. There are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. But God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong; , so that no flesh should boast before God.”
2) There is meaning in the time of settlement and the cost of work.
Different people have different calling hours and different amounts of hours worked. However, the settlement period is the same, and the basic price for work is the same. In other words, for those who are called, there must be a period of settlement of work. This is the time when Jesus returns. And the same price for work is to inherit the kingdom of God, that is, salvation.
The Word of God promises two things to those who have been called. One is the promise of “salvation” to those who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. There is no discrimination and it is not a reward for human effort. It is only given by the grace of God. Because He promised, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The other is a reward according to work. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” In addition, in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, he clearly stated the reward according to work. There is a reward for martyrs, there is a reward for evangelists, and there is a reward for ministers. The Lord says in Matthew 10:40-41. “Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple As for him, truly I say to you, that man will by no means lose his reward. do.”
3. There are things people forget.
Those who worked only one hour received a denarius, and those who came first received a denarius. Then those who came first complained. Then the owner cut it off and said, 'Never violated the contract.' These words must be understood as the meaning of the forgiveness of sins and salvation. This is because he paid the same price regardless of the time and amount of work.
The Lord does not separate the amount of sins and forgive them according to how long they have believed and how much work they have done. Just because you belonged to the Lord in response to Jesus' call, you forgive regardless of the amount of sin and the time of your faith. When we stand before the Lord, we will inherit the kingdom of God by examining whether we have answered the Lord's call or not. This is what verse 16 means.
Let's look at verse 16. “In the same way, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Let's look at the background of this verse. The master pointed out that the complaints of those who came first were not justified. Then he said that all these things belong to the master, that the master can do whatever he wants, and that this is the master's will. The owner kept his promise. And it is the Master's grace to give the promised wages and more. As a laborer, you can only thank the grace of hiring you as a worker.
They forget that they have been wandering around in the marketplace because there is no one to write to them. And there was no fixed wage except for those who worked from the first hour. Perhaps they would have appreciated just letting them do the work for them while they were playing. The master gave everyone a day's wages. However, even though they received the grace that overflowed with wrath, they could not thank the grace and complained.
The Lord spoke verse 16 to those who forgot to give thanks. In other words, it teaches that “the kingdom of God is given to those who give thanks for grace.” In Luke 17:12-19, there is a miracle of ten lepers being healed by Jesus. All ten were healed, but only one, a Samaritan, returned to the Lord and bowed down and gave thanks. Then the Lord said, “Get up and go. Your faith has saved you.” The remaining nine, who did not give thanks, healed their physical ailments, but did not receive the grace of salvation.
There is one theological expression that the Reformer Martin Luther took seriously. “I realized the truth of this gospel on the toilet seat in the bathroom!” Luther made this confession at a dinner with friends.
Humans are the most humble on the toilet, the most open-minded, the most shy, the most spontaneous, and the purest. That is the state of a beggar, and since he is completely empty, only then can man know God's grace and say, "I cannot live on my own like a beggar. God, save me.”
Let's look back at what we have been called to. And let's look back on how I am living now, and whether I am forgetting God's grace by drowning in resentment or complaining as if I lacked something even after receiving God's great saving grace. And let us give thanks as we think about giving eternal life to us, making us a child, and allowing us to inherit the kingdom of God. God said, "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and to him who does his deeds right, I will show the salvation of God."
Let us be faithful in our daily giving, not forgetting God's grace in our lives and giving thanks. So, I pray that you will be filled with the joy, peace, and satisfaction that comes from the Lord being with you.