“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard,” Matthew 20:1
Any time you get your hopes up, there is always the possibility for disappointment. Expectations can be a dangerous thing, especially when this breeds impure motives. Whenever you bring an earthly mindset into an untimely trial, the cry of the ungrateful is conceived.
So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner, Matthew 20:10-11.
In the parable of the workers in the Vineyard, Jesus addresses the cry of the ungrateful. Human nature leads one to believe that those who work harder or longer will receive more than newcomers. However, Jesus dismisses this comparison of those by using the analogy of heaven. Though the apostle Paul does refer to eternal crowns, receiving the gift of eternal life should lead to a thankful heart.
“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you,” Matthew 20:13-14.
As difficult as it was for some of these workers to get over the fact that each was paid the some wage despite the amount of hours in the vineyard, there is a truth to embrace. The solution to overcoming an ungrateful spirit is developing a heart like Barnabas. Despite his reputation of an encourager, Acts 4:36-37, the apostle Paul possessed far greater God given talents. Instead of blocking his way, Barnabas moved aside so that Paul’s gifts could be fanned into flame. Therefore, don’t allow jealousy to give birth to an ungrateful heart. Rather, in humility consider others more important than yourself.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 