Heirling’s Spirit of Jealousy

Daily Scripture Threshing for Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Today’s Text: Matthew 20:1-16

Key Verse: Matthew 20:25 (GNT): “Don't I have the right to do as I wish with my own money? Or are you jealous because I am generous?”

Life is so twisted and really squarely for the most part! I have heard different people say stuffs like “life is not fair.” Many godly people think so as well. Indeed, most Christians may have thought, one time or the other, that God’s grace is not fairly given. Perhaps, the parable before us today represents the posture of today's church. We don't often think that our calling is not basically about reward but about serving the Master. When we pray, reward is in view. When we do ministry, we think reward. When we give, we are not doing so for the love of God, or from acknowledging him as the owner of all things. We give so that it can be given unto us.

Jesus features this story to portray and rebuke the character of greed and jealousy that He foresaw will ravage people who work in His vineyard. The spirit we are given is not that which is greedy for gain. Jesus does not want us to be like a hireling in His vineyard. Galatians 3:29 says: “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” So, we are heirs, not hirelings. And except we understand that we till our father’s ground, we would be like one of those fellows. We would grow self-conceited and jealous, especially when we see God deal graciously and generously with our fellow worker.

Meanwhile, for God, it is not when you came, what you do or when that attract reward. It is the spirit of the assignment that matters. Our assignment is never competitive, it is cooperative and complimentary. Our goal is the kingdom; and it may neither be done nor rewarded in the secular Spirit. This parable is a soft reproof to those who approach the altar of God with mercantile spirit. A First Century myth has it that a disciple once saw a vision in which Jesus asked: “What reward shall I give thee for thy work?" And the dream the disciple answered: "Nihil misi te, Domine," i.e. "Nothing but Thyself, O Lord!" Friends, let us be comforted that our Lord is Himself the best of all His gifts. He is our "exceeding great reward." Therefore none of us should allow the hireling's spirit of selfishness and jealousy to thrive.

Quote for the Day: “The cleverest bookkeeper will miss the clearest reason for spiritual blessing.” (Simon Olatunji)

Prayer: Dear Lord, please forgive us for greed, selfish ambition, idolatry, conceit and arrogance. Forgive us for loving things and placing them over You. Teach us Lord to be driven by Your Kingdom and it's righteousness, in Jesus' name. Amen.

I welcome you to join our Miracles@Dusk by 7pm CST today as we close the Month of August; and join Miracles@Dawn by 6am CST tomorrow as we begin September. It's a teleconference prayer meeting. To join dial +1 (515) 606-5147 with access code 174776#

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

The Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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