Scripture

”He said to one of them, ‘ I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay the last worker the same as you.’”

Observation

Jesus tells a parable to illustrate the kingdom of heaven. A land owner went out early in the day to hire workers. He hires some, but find it’s not enough, so he returns at various times in the day and hires more workers.

At the end of the day, he pays the workers from the last to be hired to the first. He pays them all the same amount, regardless of how long they worked. When those who started early in the morning complain, he says, “You agreed to work for this amount. Take your money and go. Don’t be jealous of my kindness to others.”

Jesus concludes by saying that those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first now will be last then.

Application

Jesus overturns all of our natural expectations. It seems unfair to pay a man who works all day the same as a man who only works an hour. On the other hand, both men need the same money to live on.

When we are tempted to say, “it’s not fair!” to God, we need to realise that God is not about fairness, but about grace. If God gives me enough grace for me, how can I complain when someone else seems to get a better deal? My eyes need to be on God, not on my brother.

Our concept of fairness arises because we live in a world of limited resources. If one person has a lot, it seems to be at the expense of someone who has less.

God is the God of more than enough. He has an infinite supply of everything. So for God to give a billion dollars to one person while giving one million dollars to somebody else, is not a lack of fairness. It is about what we can handle with wisdom and joy .

Prayer

Lord, please forgive me for complaining about fairness, when I should be thanking you for abundance. Help me to focus on what others need from me rather than what I want from you. Amen.

Scripture

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Observation

Jesus tells His disciples that it is hard for rich people to enter the kingdom. In fact it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom.

The disciples are astounded and ask Jesus how can anyone be saved? He tells them it is impossible by human standards, but with God everything is possible .

He goes on to tell them that in the age to come, these disciples will sit on twelve thrones. Many who are now the greatest will then be the least in the Kingdom, and many who are now unimportant will be the greatest.

Application

It is impossible for anyone to be saved through human effort alone. The disciples were amazed at Jesus’ words that rich people find it hard to enter the Kingdom. There was an assumption that being rich was a sign of God’s favour.

Jesus reminds them that the rich will be poor and the weak will be strong in the age of the Kingdom of Heaven. God overturns all of our expectations.

Nobody can be saved – rich or poor. But with God, the impossible becomes possible Jesus would soon die on the cross to open wide the gates of Heaven to all who would lay down their own lives and follow Him.

With God, all things are possible. The dead come to life; lepers are cleansed; money is provided; incurable diseases are cured.

We should never abandon hope. Rather, we need to trust the God who does the impossible.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for your ability to save people who seem beyond redemption. You truly are the God of the impossible. Amen.

Scripture

But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had many possessions.

Observation

Some parents bring their children to receive Jesus’ blessing. The disciples want to send them away, but Jesus says,”Let the little children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like this.”

A rich man comes to Jesus to ask him what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to obey the commandments. The man says he has done this and asks what else must he do?

Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. The young man goes away sad, for he has many possessions.

Application

Jesus has a way of putting his finger on people’s addictions and idols. For this man, the idol was his wealth.

Jesus, at the man’s request, gives him a fundamental choice. He could enjoy the benefits of wealth in this life or he could give them up for now in order to enjoy eternal life.

It is a bit like the challenge for young children – have one lolly now sitting in front of you on a plate or wait half an hour for five lollies. Many people, adults and children alike, are unable to exercise discipline and patience to wait for the better thing.

This man was obviously aware he was lacking something. He was looking for the relationship with God that just obeying commandments can never satisfy. Jesus says, in effect, that his wealth was standing in the way.

It doesn’t have to be possessions, of course. People make idols of all kinds of things – power, sexual immorality, approval by others and more.

If we are not prepared to give up the thing that blocks our relationship with God, we will never get to Heaven.

Prayer

Lord, please show me the idols that get in the way of my relationship with you, and please give me the grace to surrender them to you. Amen.