In This Issue

• "WHATEVER IS RIGHT YOU WILL RECEIVE"
• ABSENCE IS A SYMPTOM
• FROM A LIST FOR PREACHERS
• UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
• MORE INFORMATION...

"WHATEVER IS RIGHT YOU WILL RECEIVE"

In Matt. 20:1-16, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard. A landowner went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed with them upon a set amount of pay and they went to work. Later, he continued to go out at various hours during the day, even up to one hour before quitting time, hiring workers, and sending them to the vineyard. Those workers who were hired at the third hour, sixth hour, ninth hour and 11th hour were told, "Go into the vineyard, and whatever is right, you will receive," and they went to work. At the end of the day, the landowner paid the workers. He first paid those who had gone to work at the 11th hour, and ended with those who had gone to work at the start of the day. He paid the 11th hour workers, and the others who had come to work late in the day the same amount he had agreed to pay those who began in the early morning. Those who had come to work first assumed that they would thus receive higher wages than agreed upon -- but no -- he paid them what had been promised at the start of the day -- the same he had paid those who had worked fewer hours.

The landowner sought to soothe their disappointment by reminding them that they had received everything they had been promised. They had no beef coming simply because he had been gracious to those who had been hired later in the day. Jesus ends the parable much as He had ended the conversation which led up to the parable in the latter part of chapter 19, "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."

There are three lessons we want to learn from this parable. First, God doesn't think like we think. See Isa. 55:8-9. This is one of the most important lessons we can learn. In fact, until we thoroughly realize that truth, other important truths may remain obscure to us. Human reasoning must always give way to Divine revelation, because God's thoughts and ways are different from ours.

Second, and most likely what was uppermost in the Lord's mind as He unfolded this parable -- the Jewish believers, to whom the gospel came first, would in the final analysis, have no advantage over those Gentiles who become obedient believers. Though the Israelites had many advantages leading up to the time of Christ, with the accomplishment of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, there was no longer a difference. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love" (Gal. 5:6).

Third, the promised reward in heaven is the same for all. Those who were obedient in the first century have no advantage over those of us who serve Christ in the 21st century, and the person who comes to Christ late in life has the same hope as all other faithful servants. The reward is not conditioned upon length of serve, but on faithfulness. But let it be carefully noted that we must come into the vineyard and serve to have any reward at all. 

--CRJ

ABSENCE IS A SYMPTOM

Fever is an easily discernable symptom of a disorder somewhere in the body. The primary problem may be a hidden infection that would not otherwise be noticeable until it was in an advanced stage. The presence of fever, however, reveals that the infection exists. The fever is a symptom of an underlying cause.

This does not lessen the significance of fever. Hospitals check a patient’s temperature every few hours because the temperature gives such insight into the condition of the body. Sometimes a patient is kept in the hospital several days after he feels well because of a lingering fever. The fever indicates that "feeling well" can be deceptive and may not reflect a person’s true condition.

Unnecessary absence from worship services is a fever-like symptom. It invariably is an indication of a more basic spiritual infection or disorder of some kind. The primary problem may be deeply hidden.

As a fever may possess a man who does not know what causes it, even so a man can neglect worship without being aware of the problems that cause him to do so. He can easily camouflage his lack of concern for worship by involvement in his work, his family, or some other interest. This is especially easy when his other interest is a worthwhile one. He is then better able to rationalize that his neglect of worship is reasonable behavior under his circumstances.

Deliberately missing a worship service is always spiritually significant. It is significant because it reveals the presence of a wound, an infection, a depression, or some other primary spiritual disorder. Furthermore, the fact that a person "feels well" about his spiritual life is not a guarantee of spiritual health.

Although the church should be more interested in causes than symptoms, it cannot avoid the implications of continued absence from worship services. This would be like a parent ignoring a high fever in his child. The fever is a symptom, but the primary cause may take the child’s life if the fever is ignored. Absence may take a spiritual life if it is ignored. 

--author unknown, Road Creek bulletin, Elkhorn City, KY

FROM A LIST FOR PREACHERS:

Socrates and Aristotle each taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, but Jesus for only three. Yet His influence far surpasses the combined 130 years of teaching by these men who are acknowledged as the greatest philosophers of antiquity.

Jesus painted no pictures, yet the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo DaVince received their illumination from Him.

Jesus wrote no poetry, yet Dante, Milton, and the world's greatest poets were inspired by Him.

Jesus composed no music, yet Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, and Bach reached their highest perfection in hymns, symphonies, and oratorios composed in His honor.

Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by Jesus. His unique contribution to the race of men is salvation of the soul.

Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art, literature or music. Only Jesus can break the enslaving chains of sin and Satan. Only Jesus can heal the brokenhearted, strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead.

Please let me introduce you to Him today.

MORE INFORMATION...