This Is My Story 2 – The Blessings of Our Lives
Blessings are a strange thing. We pray, wish and hope for them to come our way. We often times celebrate when our friends get blessed. Those blessings keep us going at times and every once in a while might be the last straw to a good day or a bad day. We are going to look at another story Jesus told and try to figure out just how we handle the blessings other people receive.
In Matthew 20:1 – 16 in the Message Jesus tells this story: “God’s kingdom is like an estate manager who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. They agreed on a wage of a dollar a day, and went to work. “Later, about nine o’clock, the manager saw some other men hanging around the town square unemployed. He told them to go to work in his vineyard and he would pay them a fair wage. They went. “He did the same thing at noon, and again at three o’clock. At five o’clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing? ‘ “They said, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “He told them to go to work in his vineyard. “When the day’s work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, ‘Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.’ “Those hired at five o’clock came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, ‘These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.’ “He replied to the one speaking for the rest, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair. We agreed on the wage of a dollar, didn’t we? So take it and go. I decided to give to the one who came last the same as you. Can’t I do what I want with my own money? Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?’ “Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.”
When I read this story it really makes me stop and think about this whole “blessing” thing I have going on in my minds. If I’m honest with myself sometimes my blessings are not as good as the blessings that I see around me. At least that is how it seems from my side of the fence. So I think if we walk through a few questions it might help me out.
How do We Handle God’s Generosity with Others?
In the story the guys who got hired early work all day. Considering the fact that they were blessed at that time to even get work for the day they were happy. The work was hard and the day was hot, but still they would go home that day with a jingle in their pocket. At the end of the day they gather together and are waiting for their pay. The owner pays the later workers first. He gives them a dollar. Can you imagine the thoughts of the morning hires? “If he is paying them a dollar, can you only imagine what we will be paid? We are going to be get 2,3 , maybe 4 dollars for all our work!” The excitement had to be building with each group they see get paid.
Then it is their turn. Their hearts were probably beating a little fast as they waited to be paid. ONE DOLLAR? Can’t you see the disgust and anger in the story that Jesus tells us. They cannot believe the owner would pay them what he paid the one hour workers and others. After all they have worked all day and given all this work to the owner. They are not happy for the other workers; they only feel cheated by the owner. They are so upset that they call him on his decision to do equal pay for unequal work. We’ll talk about his answer in a minute.
They were unhappy with the distribution of blessings. You ever feel that way? Asking questions like: Why do they always get the invite to the party? Why does he get the promotion? Are you kidding me, their kid got the scholarship? You get the idea. How do we do with the blessings of other people? Just stop for a minute and think about the last time your friends told you some of their good news. How did it sit with you afterwards, not right away?
Is Your Problem with Them or God?
These workers could have been ticked with the other workers. After all they were obviously lazy and didn’t show up early enough to work all day. Sometimes that is how we see others. Not as deserving as we are for blessings. They might have had a problem with their co-workers and took it out on the owner. You ever do that with God? You know that He blesses people who “don’t deserve” it. We see it all the time. Someone has done us wrong and we get mad at God that it happened. I wonder if he ever just holds up his hands and wants to tell us that it is not on him.
Maybe the workers were so upset with the owner that they stink eyed the late workers and made sure they knew they were not happy with them. Ever since the first two brothers we humans have been taking our anger or disappointment with God out on each other. He is a little hard to reach and a little big to tackle so we go with the bird in hand so to speak. Either way we need to figure out what it is that truly bothers us about other people being blessed. If we try to keep a running total on it then we can always find someone “more blessed” than we are. What do we do about this? Glad you asked because I’ve got a story that might help.
How do I Handle the Blessings of Others and Honor God?
My great-uncle Lem loved playing golf. I mean two rounds a week and trips to play golf loved it. He lived about 30 miles from us and after we met began talking to me about playing golf. I had clubs and had played maybe five times my entire life. I really enjoyed spending time with him so I gave in and started to go with him as much as I could.
He had buddies that he would play his weekly round with. They were some great guys and a couple are still friends of mine even though my uncle has been gone for a few years. When they played they were competitive. They kept score and at times would mumble a little about the score, but they always did this crazy thing. Even though they wanted to beat each other they would cheer and congratulate each other for a good shot. I watched this over and over again. I did not get a lot of pats on the back. Mostly don’t worry you’ll get better. One day as we drove home from a game I asked my uncle why they did that. Why do you cheer and congratulate the guy you’re trying to beat? His answer stuck with me. He said that though they are competing against each other, they are truly competing against the course. The course will always win, but if someone can get that one shot or do something good on the course then you celebrate. You see the course will take its justice and revenge every round. So count yourself blessed to see someone get over on the course. So celebrate high five or just pat them on the back for winning one.
What if we realized that life is like that golf course. It will take its pound of flesh from each one of us. Good days many days seem so far apart for all of us. So if someone has a good day, good news or a great event happen we should celebrate. Life will eventually beat us all. No one gets out of it alive, so pull for each other. Quit comparing and just start celebrating each other’s wins. If we approach blessings and life this way think about how much more laughter there would be in the world. Not tears, not complaining but just simple joy. I think that is how God wants it to be. Besides he already said he will bless as he wants to bless so quit nagging him and just settle in knowing that he loves you.