Message by Evangelist Enrico Tambunan (Sunday, 12 August 2018)
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Matthew 20:1-16
To understand the context of chapter 20, you need to look at Chapter 19. God appreciates your work. You must work. You were made for greatness.
Your pulpit is where you community is. You must minister to your community. God sees your life going from darkness to brightness. When you complain, you are destroying yourself and your relationship with God.
Instead of thinking about how great God is, we're too busy thinking about how great we are. You feel blessed when you see someone else and compare yourself to them. Do not be jealous of other people. See how great He is and how He blesses everyone. Do not take things for granted. God says whatever is right, He will give.
We must trust in God. Take what the Word of God says and trust in Him. Trust Him and still do the work. Follow all that God says. He will give what is best for you. One will be given, whilst the other will receive.
God loves those who give Him a great opportunity to be filled with His love and grace.