The Nature of Envy

Matt.20:1-16
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first last." The Jews, as God's chosen people, were indeed the first to hear the good news. However, God meant for all men to hear the gospel.The Gentiles should be admitted to equal privileges and advantages with the Jews. God owes no one! Salvation is a gift. We stand before God in a sinful state, idle in our sorrow. Pray for mercy for yourself and others and do not be envious of others. God has called some in their early years while others have been called later in life. Now is the accepted time to accept Christ's salvation. Your life is a vapor! Here one minute, gone the next! Don't worry about the ones who labor less than you.We all have agreed to work for the kingdom, some more some less. Our salvation is not dependant upon what we do but what Christ has done!Lord, Your word is good! Amen