The Right Perspective

     I was thinking upon the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 and the parable of the workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20:1-16.
     In the parable of the prodigal son, the son that stayed with his father was upset at his father for giving a celebration for his brother, who had spent all his money then returned home. He complained that his father never did anything like that for him and he pointed out that he was the loyal son who stayed with him. His father explained his reason for the celebration that he was giving for his brother. He said in Luke 15:32 "It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found."
     In the parable of the workers in the vineyard the owner of the vineyard hired labors to work in the field and he told them that he would pay them a coin for their day's work. He hired different workers throughout the day and even on the last hour of the day he hired workers. When it was time to stop the work, he had his foreman to call them all together for so to receive their wage. The ones who worked at the beginning of the day were not happy when they saw the people who had worked only one hour and got the same wage as they got. The owner said to one of them that was complaining in Matthew 20:13,14 "But he replied to one of them, "Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ,¹⁴Take what belongs to you and go, I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you."
     In the parables, both the son and the workers complained that they were being treated unfairly. They both thought that they deserved something more but they both missed the point of what had happened. When the prodigal son left his home he was in a spiritually dead condition and so was the people who were not working in the field. Romans 5:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." This is what the father was celebrating, his son who was spiritually dead will now have eternal life. The workers in the field represented the disciples of Jesus Christ, who are brought into his service and no matter how long they have been a christian each will equally receive the same reward which is eternal life. So there was no real reason to complain both the prodigal son and the workers were spiritually dead and now they are alive, they were spiritually lost and now they are found.
     Being imperfect humans that we are, we do sometimes miss the point and think to ourselves that we are being treated unfairly. We sometimes cannot grasp the whole picture and understand what we need to know. The brother of the prodigal son lost sight of the understanding if his brother were to die in his sinful state there would be no reunion after death. The workers in the field lost sight of the consequences of anyone who was not in the field it would mean their eternal death. It does not really matter in what condition someone comes to God or if it's the last hour of his or her's life. What matters is they are now spiritually alive and will receive eternal life and be with us in God's kingdom.
     With God we have a hope of eternal life without him we have only death. Just like in Noah's day those who stand inside of the ark will live and those who are on the outside will perish. I believe that is why our religious relatives nag us to go to church and give our lives over to God because they want to see us in the resurrection. They love us and want us to be with them forever.

To Many Sweets

     I know by the title, you think I am going to talk about having to many sweets during the holiday season. However, I want to go deeper than that, to think about the people who are living on nothing but sweets. They are spending most if not all their time on the things that make them feel good for the moment. Things just like a sweet, it makes you feel good for awhile but the feeling goes away and after awhile, you need a another one to satisfy your craving.
     People are literally gorging themselves on sweets and not getting a lasting satisfaction in doing so. Feeding their need to be fulfilled with an empty nourishment that can never completely satisfy their soul. Lets look at the sweets in one's life. First the obvious is food you can try to eat your sadness away but it does not work and neither does drugs or alcohol. You can avoid your problems through various types of entertainment and it might make you feel better for a time but after your done, you will still have to face what is troubling you. You carry your problems wherever you go so you cannot really run away from them through travel. Your broken soul must be mended first before a lasting peace can be found, an overindulgence of sweets (a solution to feel good only for the moment) is not the answer.
     When we overindulge we are trying fill that emptiness that is within our soul and to soothe our pain but it only last temporarily. Consuming to many sweets does not solve our problems but only creates more problems, more sadness and disappointments.
     Not giving up on hope and facing your pain is the beginning to your healing. Praying and looking to God for your answers is a good start. Look for your answers inside the Bible for it is God's word. In God's word you can find what you are looking for and hope for your hurting soul. Having to many sweets is not the answer but God's word is.

Psalm 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."
Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."