In Matthew 20:1-16 Christ gives the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. This is a story that teaches me a lot about what my perspective should be. I can identify in some ways with the laborers who labored during the heat of the day, and then are upset when those who started working at the 11th hour receive the same wage as them. However, this kind of complaint won't make sense for a couple of reasons for someone who feels mistreated in the Lord's vineyard because they worked more hours, but didn't receive more pay. First, what we will really receive in return for our faithfulness is an infinite reward, and infinity +- a large sum still equals infinity. Second, anytime that we give service in the kingdom of God we receive blessings for the here and now in life in addition to the infinite penny at the end.
This type of thinking goes hand in hand for me with what Christ says later in this chapter. "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister." The way things work in the kingdom of God is contrary to what the natural man might think. Christ is the perfect example of this. There is no one who was more lowly than Him, yet now there is no one that we honor more. There is no one who served and gave of themselves more, and there is none with more power.
I feel this principle of sacrifice is one of the most universal truths we can learn in this life. When we serve in the Lord's vineyard it's a funny thing for us to complain because most of the time we are the ones who really benefit from our own service.
This type of thinking goes hand in hand for me with what Christ says later in this chapter. "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister." The way things work in the kingdom of God is contrary to what the natural man might think. Christ is the perfect example of this. There is no one who was more lowly than Him, yet now there is no one that we honor more. There is no one who served and gave of themselves more, and there is none with more power.
I feel this principle of sacrifice is one of the most universal truths we can learn in this life. When we serve in the Lord's vineyard it's a funny thing for us to complain because most of the time we are the ones who really benefit from our own service.