In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit
Grumbling is just about the national pastime of sinners. One look at the “Speakout” column in the Kankakee Daily Journal proves it. There may be one or two blurbs complimenting someone or something. But most of what’s printed complains about someone or something, whether it’s high gas prices, poor governing, or the statewide smoking ban.
Sometimes complaining has a point. When a wrong needs to be put right, we have every right to complain. We complain especially because something isn’t fair. Often that something isn’t fair. Jesus’ parable in Matthew chapter 20 isn’t fair. It’s a union grievance waiting to happen. Everyone working in the vineyard receives the same pay, whether they worked one hour or twelve hours. These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day. That’s not fair!
Would you say the same about a deathbed conversion to the Faith? Let’s say the person who converted in their last moments was 99 years old. All their life he or she wanted nothing to do with Jesus Christ. The person mocked God and those who worship Him as fools. All of a sudden he or she has a change of heart. The person is baptized. Moments later the person dies. Their labor in the Lord’s Vineyard was short, yet they receive the same reward as the person who has been a Christian all their life.
Very few would say that a deathbed conversion to the Christian Faith is not fair. The person is in heaven. They have their reward. That’s what’s important. The same thing can be said about Christ’s parable in Matthew chapter 20. God’s grace, His undeserved love toward you and me, knows no preferential treatment. The Master of the Vineyard never plays favorites. He gives the same reward to all laborers regardless without discrimination. The Lord is truly an equal opportunity giver.
Sure, He is fair. But He certainly isn’t merciful! He could have changed out laborers every hour, giving some a break, and paid them all a fair wage. What mercy is there paying an equal wage for unequal labor?
Grumbling will not get you more mercy from God. Grumbling is a consequence of sin. Grumbling says to God and your neighbor that you are not satisfied with all you’ve received. The Lord gives you body and soul, eyes, ears and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. We recall all the things the Lord provides for us. Yet we quickly forget that He also takes care of them. We also forget that He does all this only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.
The phrase that jumps out at us is without any merit or worthiness in me. Your earthly father may have abandoned you or may never have shown his love. Your heavenly Father constantly shows His fatherly, divine goodness and mercy. Sometimes this mercy is harsh. He breaks your pride and stymies what you think is God’s will for you. He does this to teach you what is truly His will for you. It may not seem fair, but it’s completely fair. After all, this is our Father’s world.
What is unfair to sinful human beings is fair to our Father in heaven. He created the heavens and the earth. He brought mankind into being. He keeps mankind in communion with Himself. He provides everything you need and then some. He especially provides a Way out of the consequence of sin. The Lord God is a fair and merciful God. He shows His fairness and mercy in His Son Jesus Christ.
Psalm 18 says The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord. From His temple He heard my voice. He not only hears your voice, He does something about tangling snares of death and hell that trap you. The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer, for You save a humble people, but the haughty eyes You bring down.
The Lord shames your haughty eyes and words with the sting of the Law. Your grumbling doesn’t make things better. Your grumbling is a lack of fear, love, and trust in God. The Lord quiets your grumbling, cuts the cords that bind you to death, and frees you from sin and hell forever. Jesus allows Himself to be tangled up in the cords of Sheol. He was bound in His Passion that you might be loosed from the enemy. Where you turn to Jell-O, Jesus stands firm as the Rock, the Fortress, and Deliverer. He saves you not for your glory, but for His glory alone.
The Lord God could have wiped out the Israelites for grumbling against Him. He has mercy on them instead. He brings forth water from the rock tapped by Moses’ staff. He gives them manna and quail to eat. He brings them out of death into life.
The Lord God could have wiped you out for grumbling against Him. He has mercy on you instead. He provides everything you need. You want for nothing. What you need may not be a new home, a new car, a makeover, or financial peace. What you need is what He offers: forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
God does not fall short giving out His undeserved love to you. He is here today giving out the wage He promised you. Whether you are 100 years old or a newborn baby; whether you’ve labored in the Vineyard all your life, new to the faith, or a rebel recently returning to Him, He gives what is fair and just. He gives water that saves you, bread and wine to feed you with His Body and nourish you with His Blood, and the Word of absolution that wipes away sin. He does you no wrong. He does all things well.
Jesus gouges your evil eye out, cleans the cataracts of sin, and puts it back in your eye socket. A clean eye sees clearly God’s undeserved love constantly showering you. You no longer run from Him grumbling. You run the race of life with a sure and certain hope in the God Who calls you by the Gospel, enlightens you with His Gifts, makes you holy and keeps you in the true faith to eternal life. The Lord indeed is among you. He stands before you ready to put life in your ears and your mouth. He is fair. He is gracious. His mercy endures forever. Believe it for Jesus’ sake.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit -- Rev. David M. Juhl Our Savior Evangelical-Lutheran Church Momence, IL http://oselcmomence.googlepages.com ___________________________________________________________________________ 'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_ _attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author, as well as for quoting or use in a congregational setting _with_or_without_attribution_. Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list. Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster. Subscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive? <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> For more information on this or other lists offered by Confess And Teach For Unity, you can contact the CAT 41 list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
