“Greed and Grace”
Matthew 20
1/11/98
INTRO: As I have started out the new year, I have set a goal for myself. I mentioned to you that I encouraged each of you to read the Bible through this year. For myself, I am going to try to read the Bible through four times this year, once each quarter. I’ve been reading in Exodus this week, about God’s giving the Old Testament law to the Israelites. As you read through large sections at one time, often you see things you might have missed. One thing that really struck me is how selfish and self-centered the Jews are. As God gives the ten commandments, he spends much time giving small details about “what if” someone steals your cattle, hurts your servant, etc. The Jews fought a lot over possessions and lands. The book of Genesis shows this. The Jews are really selfish people. Let’s look at our lesson today in Matthew 20:1-16.
Read Text
I. Teachings about Greed
Jesus has hired servants to work for him. He hires different workers at different times. He starts early in the morning, hiring workers, agreeing on the “union scale rate of pay.” He pays what is expected. This is a normal working agreement.
Later on, he hires more workers, but because of the hour of day, they don’t set a price, He simply says he will pay them fairly. They trust him and work for him. And so on through the day.
As paychecks are given out, those working only a little receive full pay. Those who worked the full day have no problem with this: they just expect to be paid more. Yet when they are not, they complain.
I imagine as Jesus told this lesson, the first response would have been like the workers: that’s not fair! But let’s talk about it.
I mentioned that as I have been reading I seen how selfish and greedy the Jews are. But can I tell you something that might shock you: we are no different. I have much opportunity to see this. We are a very selfish, greedy lot: even Christians in the church! Sometimes the truly generous people we know are not Christians, but the unsaved.
##Joel - In college, I used to work for a millionaire’s son. He had low income rental units, and I fixed them up. He normally hired people with letters after their name or people with numbers under their name: college grads or crooks. Joel had agreed to pay me a wage. It was a fair wage. Maybe even more than fair. I worked for him regularly and earned my pay. Joel also had a friend, Scott Hooker, who married an extremely wealthy girl. Scott didn’t work: he didn’t have to. However, Scott would work for Joel to get spending cash between his trips to the gym and trips to the beach. Scott would “piddle” around, not doing a whole lot, but get paid the same as me. I’ll admit it. I didn’t think it was fair. Why? I thought if I worked harder, I should be paid more. You’ve been there before, haven’t you?
##C&C - I worked doing industrial insulation. We were a non-union company. Yet at times we worked on a union job as sub-contractors. Everyone who worked on those jobs got union scale pay. You better believe that everyone in the company kept track of who worked the high pay jobs and how long they got the high pay. Something about us keeps us from rejoicing in the victories of another. We want the glory. It’s called sin! How is your heart today?
A. Equality vs. Fairness - The first thing we see in this parable is that Jesus never claims to treat the workers equally, but fairly. No one is cheated or wronged. Everyone gets what they bargained for. All but the first workers are given graciously more than they earned. God is fair.
Sometimes we feel God needs to treat us equally, but that teaching is never found in the Bible. How do you feel if someone else is blessed of God?
Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Let’s make sure we can rejoice in what God does in a brother or sister’s life. Let’s make sure we can rejoice in how God blesses another church. Some people talk about what is happening at Robinson Chapel, North Summit, Pine Hills, or any other church. Praise God! I hope they fill thier sanctuary five times every Sunday! Let’s not be so selfish and territorial that we can’t rejoice in the good God does in someone else’s life.
-Did a friend or co-worker get a raise? Celebrate with them, don’t complain behind their back.
##Ray - Ronda’s mom and dad always try to treat each of their children equally. We’ve told them before they don’t need to buy us something because they bought the other sibling something. We know they love us and will treat us kindly. We don’t feel we need to all be treated equally, just to be treated fairly.
B. Who has the rights? In verse 15, we are reminded that the money belongs to the master, and he can do with it as he will. The only rights being violated here are the master’s rights to do as he pleases. In conflicts of jealousy, we need to remember that God our master has the right to do as he sees fit. We have no “rights” when it comes to God. We are his servants.
C. What is important? What we so often fail to see in this passage is what is important to the master: Working in the field. Money is not important. Why is he willing to be so generous? Because he knows the value is in the field. Some plants never shut down on holidays. Rather they will pay their workers overtime, double time, even triple time, because they know that by continuing to run they will easily make up for the salaries they are paying. What truly is important to God is our working for him.
Let’s not trouble ourselves with how God is paying us. Rather let’s ask ourselves what are we doing for him. Have you been working for the master this week?
D. Attitude determines outcome - verse 16 reminds us that our attitude is key. Those who are humble receive the blessing. Those who are selfish end up paying for it. If you want great blessing and reward in your life, don’t seek it! Those who seek recognition never get it.
##Have you ever been around someone who wanted to point out every thing they had done.
They would gladly give you anything you asked for, but they will remind you of it for the rest of your life.
II. Example of Giving - In verse 17, we see Jesus setting the example. He tells his disciples that he is going to give his very life for his people. Until you have suffered and sacrificed like Jesus, let’s not talk about God not being fair. It wasn’t fair that Jesus had to die. But he did it anyways!
This whole parable is really one about the grace of God in salvation. Do you resent God’s saving anyone? Is there anyone who you think God should not save. Maybe God can save them, you just don’t want them getting the same rewards as you. After all, they had their fun, but look at all you gave up.
##Prose in my file from Pastor Dave
Matthew relates an account of this selfishness among the disciples in verses 20-28.READ TEXT
III. Making it Personal - We see the mother of James and John coming to Jesus and kneeling down. This is an act of worship and respect. Yet the next phrase is a request for her two sons to rule beside Jesus in the kingdom.
How often we come to Jesus and show him worship and respect because we want to get something. Do we really think we are fooling him? Remember that The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
Some people say, I’ll go to church today, because I’ve got a deal at work I want God to bless. Or, I’ll give to the offering today, because I just filled out my Publisher’s Sweekstakes and promised God if I won ten million dollars I’d give him one million.
The other ten find out and they are steaming mad. The NIV has indignant. They just wish their mom had thought of it first!
Many of our conflicts and arguments come about because of GREED. If we want to live peacable lives, we must learn to empty our hearts of selfish ambition and greed. Jesus says the one who will be great is the one who will serve. Do you want to get a blessing? Then don’t pray for God to give you something great, rather pray for the opportunity to serve a brother or sister in Christ this week. Remember, the way up is the way down!
