The parable of the workers in the field compares God to landowner/boss who doesn't treat all his employees equally. He pays all of them the same wage for different amount time put into their work. The workers who started 1st are envious because of his generosity towards those who started last.
This parable is Jesus teaching us a few things
1. many who are 1st will be last, and many who are last will be 1st
- this parable is about Matthew 19:30 & 20:16
- this parable is a warning to the disciples that even though they are following Jesus it does not mean they get 1st ranked status in his kingdom
- all who follow Jesus will have equal status in God's eyes
2. God is NOT fair
- He doesn't rule with a measuring stick or give only what we deserve
3. God is BEYOND fair
- he doesn't just give us what we deserve, he gives us access to his kingdom, more than we could ever deserve
4. God has UNCALCULATED LOVE
- he wants to spend all his love on us, regardless of when we embrace his love or how long we've been following Jesus
- he's like a boss who hires people late in the day and pays them a full days wage
5. God reaches out to many that we would probably ignore
- there's people we miss, sometimes intentionally, and yet the kingdom is for them too
- he's like a boss who hires people other boss' left homeless
What does this mean for how community in the church works?
while we have our hearts and hands united in support for each other and lavish in God's love for us we simultaneously exist to break open our circle for those whom God is reaching with his uncalculated love.
To HEAR the message, go to PODCASTS at www.thewestsidegathering.com
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