Posts from — November 2009

Just recently I faced a challenging moment in my life.  It was one of those rare times when one is truly put to the test.  There were immediate issues that needed to be addressed, ideals needed to be re-evaluated, and fairness in an unfair world had to be cross-examined. 

 

I tried earnestly to not let my feelings get in the way of simple logic.  Common sense had to be in the mix somewhere — or so I reasoned.  Just what were people thinking or not thinking — I pondered?   My hope was being weighed in the balances; just how would this decision affect my future plans?  How would this outcome play out with my long term and short term goals?

 

Not to mention:  How was I going to explain the current circumstance to my mate, or to my adult children, or to my extended family and friends.  Expectations would be mentioned and cross-examined over coffee and dessert.  Goals and future endeavors would be shared and highlighted.  My view of progress (in my minds eye) is measured in leaps in bounds — so too — my measure of self-worth and value as an individual.

 

I tousled the situation  back and forth in my thoughts.  I brain stormed.  There had to be an explanation; so I set off to review  the scriptures.  I poured myself into them and searched diligently.  One by one = scripture by scripture = little by little the answer came.  For me it became obvious, “A greater lesson needed to be learned then that of one earned.”  

 

In Matthew 20:1-15 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.  He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.  He told them, “You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.”  So they went.  He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.  About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around.  He asked them, “Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?”  “Because no one has hired us,” they answered.  “He said to them, “You also go and work in my vineyard.”  “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.”  “The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.  So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more.  But each one of them also received a denarius.  When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.  “These men who were hired last worked only one hour,” they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.”  “But he answered one of them, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you.  Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  Take your pay and go.  I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.  Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money?  Or are you envious because I am generous?” 

 

Giving or being generous.  I equated those two words as one in the same; that is proving not so.  We give in many ways and in many different circumstance and in many different types of scenarios.  If we purchase something we must give our money in return.  If we want to play in a sport we must give our time in practice.  If we want to achieve a goal we must give whatever is expected to attain the achievement.  On the other hand, being generous is not expecting something or anything in return.    There is no “give to get.”  It is willful giving.  It is being and/or acting unselfish.  Our God is an awesome God and He is generous above all.  He has promised to take care of us and sees to all of our needs.  We are not be envious when He so chooses to be generous.

 

Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….