Matthew 20 – I am envious because God is generous

Jesus tells the story of a farmer who hires workers early in the morning and agrees to pay them a days wage.  The farmer then hires some more workers later in the day and agrees to pay them a full days wage.  Near the end of the day the farmer goes out and hires the last of those who are willing to work and agrees to pay them a full days wage.  The workers who worked all day are upset that those who only worked an hour or two are receiving an equal pay.  The farmer says, “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money?  Or are you envious because I am generous?”

I have to admit that I am often envious that Jesus is generous.  It does not seem fair that a person who has done great evil can receive forgiveness just as easily as someone who has, for the most part, lived a morally good life.  It does not seem fair that one person can commit their whole life to being Christ’s disciple and another person can have a nominal relationship with Christ and both wind up in heaven.  I am envious because there is a whole lot of sin that I would like to do.

But I also realize the benefits of not sinning.  I get to lead a balanced life.  I get to lay all my trouble and anxiety on God’s shoulders.  I get the incredible joy of helping others discover Jesus.  I get the fulfillment of being a part of God’s kingdom on earth.  No sin is more rewarding than being with, working for, and worshiping God.  When I am envious of think of my relationship with Jesus  and realize that those without Jesus are envious of what I have.

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Weekly Meanderings

Here’s some stuff I came across this week.

1. Scot McKnight reviews Rob Bell’s “Jesus Wants to Save Christians”.

2. Esquire’s recent article on Bobby Jindal – I had to push to read the whole thing but it was interesting.

3. Why doesn’t President Bush have super powers?

4. Jon Stewart interviews Tony Blair.
Part 1
Part 2

5. Analyzing political spin.

6. Parents distrust the HPV vaccine.

7. Breast milk on the menu in Switzerland

8. I found a new blog – The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks

9. Warner Bros. 85th Anniversary.

10. So…the good news is Microsoft scrapped the Bill Gates/Jerry Seinfeld ads…the bad news is they replace them with this…

Have a great weekend!

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