Chapter 19 of Matthew deals with questions of salvation and what one must do to earn it. The simple answer, of course, is that one cannot earn what is freely given. Today's lessons deal with an issue dear to the hearts of the church's faithful members. I have been faithful in attendance at the services of God's House all my life, I have tithed or better and have been a pillar of the congregation; I even have a plaque to confirm it. What then of these johnny come latelys? What did they do to earn salvation, they don't even contribute to the upkeep of the building.
Our adventure begins with the reluctant prophet Jonah whom God sends to Nineveh. Not only does Jonah not want to go to Ninevah, he fears the wrath of its citizens given the message he has been sent to deliver and furthermore he fully believes the people should suffer God's righteous wrath for the iniquity of their lives. When his message achieves the results God desired and God repents his wrath Jonah is annoyed with God and tells him so, then sits and sulks by the city's walls. Why should these people get off scot free when Jonah has lived his entire life in God's service.
The alternate OT Lesson is a passage from Exodus chronicling the Israelite's wanderings in the desert. Why did Moses and Aaron lead them into the wilderness to die of hunger when they could be feasting in the fleshpots of Egypt. When God sends them Manna from Heaven it isn't long before they complain again about the boring nature of this life-giving food.
Psa 145:8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
This verse is echoed in all our lessons today.
Php 1:29 For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him.
Php 1:30 Now you can take part with me in the battle. It is the same battle you saw me fighting in the past, and as you hear, the one I am fighting still.
The message of the parable in Matthew:
The doling out of God's mercy is not done by Union Scale, it is no closed Union Shop. There is no fairness about it because none of us have 'earned' it. It is a benificence freely given to all to whom it is granted by the Holy Spirit that they believe. Depending on how you look at it God shows no favouritism or he shows all favouritism. There is no special place reserved for those who have laboured all their lives on behalf of God's saving grace save for the joy they have experienced in God's service. In fact the expectation of reward for faithful service could be accounted a sin.
1Co 9:16 I have no right to boast just because I preach the gospel. After all, I am under orders to do so. And how terrible it would be for me if I did not preach the gospel!
1Co 9:17 If I did my work as a matter of free choice, then I could expect to be paid; but I do it as a matter of duty, because God has entrusted me with this task.
1Co 9:18 What pay do I get, then? It is the privilege of preaching the Good News without charging for it, without claiming my rights in my work for the gospel.
1Co 9:19 I am a free man, nobody's slave; but I make myself everybody's slave in order to win as many people as possible.
God's mercy is not fair. Perhaps we should be thankful it is not fair. If it were fair none of us would merit it.
Our adventure begins with the reluctant prophet Jonah whom God sends to Nineveh. Not only does Jonah not want to go to Ninevah, he fears the wrath of its citizens given the message he has been sent to deliver and furthermore he fully believes the people should suffer God's righteous wrath for the iniquity of their lives. When his message achieves the results God desired and God repents his wrath Jonah is annoyed with God and tells him so, then sits and sulks by the city's walls. Why should these people get off scot free when Jonah has lived his entire life in God's service.
The alternate OT Lesson is a passage from Exodus chronicling the Israelite's wanderings in the desert. Why did Moses and Aaron lead them into the wilderness to die of hunger when they could be feasting in the fleshpots of Egypt. When God sends them Manna from Heaven it isn't long before they complain again about the boring nature of this life-giving food.
Psa 145:8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
This verse is echoed in all our lessons today.
Php 1:29 For you have been given the privilege of serving Christ, not only by believing in him, but also by suffering for him.
Php 1:30 Now you can take part with me in the battle. It is the same battle you saw me fighting in the past, and as you hear, the one I am fighting still.
The message of the parable in Matthew:
The doling out of God's mercy is not done by Union Scale, it is no closed Union Shop. There is no fairness about it because none of us have 'earned' it. It is a benificence freely given to all to whom it is granted by the Holy Spirit that they believe. Depending on how you look at it God shows no favouritism or he shows all favouritism. There is no special place reserved for those who have laboured all their lives on behalf of God's saving grace save for the joy they have experienced in God's service. In fact the expectation of reward for faithful service could be accounted a sin.
1Co 9:16 I have no right to boast just because I preach the gospel. After all, I am under orders to do so. And how terrible it would be for me if I did not preach the gospel!
1Co 9:17 If I did my work as a matter of free choice, then I could expect to be paid; but I do it as a matter of duty, because God has entrusted me with this task.
1Co 9:18 What pay do I get, then? It is the privilege of preaching the Good News without charging for it, without claiming my rights in my work for the gospel.
1Co 9:19 I am a free man, nobody's slave; but I make myself everybody's slave in order to win as many people as possible.
God's mercy is not fair. Perhaps we should be thankful it is not fair. If it were fair none of us would merit it.
No comments:
Post a Comment