In review of Matthew 20:9-10 it says, “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” (The Message).
What I’m learning is that entrance to Heaven is by God's grace alone. In this parable God is the landowner and believers are the workers. This parable speaks especially to those who feel superior because of heritage or position, to those who feel superior because they have spent so much time with Christ, and to new believers as reassurance of God's grace. This parable is not about rewards but about salvation. It is a strong teaching about grace, God's generosity. I shouldn't begrudge those who turn to God in the last moments of life, because, in reality, no one deserves eternal life. I am to never be jealous or envious of what God has given to another. Rather, I need to focus on God's gracious benefit for me, and to be thankful for what I have.
The key to overcoming envy is to stop comparing myself to others.
Comparison is the root of all envy. And it was the first mistake made in the parable of the vineyard workers: The ones who were hired last “came up and were each given a dollar. When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more” (Matthew 20:9-10 The Message). In other words, they started making comparisons: “Look what they’re getting. So we’re going to get more. We deserve more.”
The Bible reminds me over and over again to never compare myself to anybody else for two reasons:
First, I’m unique. God made me special. There’s nobody like me. He made the mold, and then he broke it. I am not comparable to anybody else.
Second, if I do start comparing, it’s always going to lead to one of two sins: pride or envy. When I compare myself to others, I’m either going to think “I’m doing better than them,” and I get full of pride, or “They’re doing better than me,” and I get full of envy. Pride and envy are both sins.
In addition, envy occurs when I don’t really know someone intimately. I can see a person’s strengths and successes from a distance, but it’s only when I get up close that I see their hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Everybody has hidden pain. When I’m looking at people from a distance, it’s a whole lot easier to miss their fears and faults.
There’s no better way to get to know people up close and personal than in a small group. I heard about one woman with multiple sclerosis and lupus who told her small group, “If we all put our problems in a big pile at the center of this room and looked at them, at the end of the evening we’d probably all take our problems back and go home.” When I get to know people closely, I won’t envy them. But I can learn how to pray for them.
Envy isolates me. Fellowship binds me together and helps me get to know others so I can stop comparing myself to others.
In summary, when those who were hired first say what those who were hired last received, they assumed that would get more, but they all got the same. Entrance to Heaven is by God's grace alone. This parable is not about rewards but about salvation. It is a strong teaching about grace or generosity. I shouldn't begrudge those who turn to God in the last moments. For in reality, no one deserves eternal life. So I am never to be jealous or envious of what God has given another. I am never to be jealous or envious of what God has given to another. Rather learn to focus on God's benefit for me and be thankful for what I have. The key to overcoming envy is to stop comparing myself to others. Comparison is the root of all envy. So I shouldn't compare myself because I'm unique and therefore not comparable to anyone else. If I do compare its only going to lead me to pride or envy (both of which are sins). Envy occurs when I don't really know someone intimately. It's easy to see strengths and successes from a distance, but when I get up close I can see hurts, hand-ups, and habits. Everybody has a hidden pain. Envy isolates me, fellowship binds me and helps me get to know others so I can stop comparing myself to others.
Father I pray today, that I will not become too expectant. You give me what I need at the right time and much more than I deserve.
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