DAY 67
Pastor Chad Denmon
Scripture
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
“About nine in the morning 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 noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon 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 five in the afternoon 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 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, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one 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?’
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” - Matthew 20:1-16
Today Pastor Chad Denmon walks us through the Parable of the Vineyard and how easy it is to be like the worker who works only for the reward of his daily wage. Because he is focused on what he might receive, he misses out on a relationship with the vineyard owner.
We can also get off track sometimes, focusing on recognition or reward that might come from serving God, rather than our service simply being out of the overflow of our relationship with Him. But Pastor Chad reminds us that God is already proud of us—He loves you, and He loves me!
If this describes you today, repent from that motive and pursue your relationship with Jesus first! Ultimately, our reward for serving God is the salvation, hope, restoration, and healing that come because of what Jesus did for us, not what we can do for Him.
Question: Do you serve God out of your love for Him, or do you serve Him hoping for a reward or recognition?
Family Chat: As you think about your relationship with God, do you think He wants you to spend more or less time with Him?
Take action: Set aside your doing for a time and simply spend time being with God, in His presence. Get alone with Him and worship Him. Turn on some worship music and sing songs to Him that are about Him. Spend time talking to Him about what He means to you, focusing on His greatness over yours. Thank Him for everything you can think of to thank Him for.
If this is hard for you, ask God to bring you back to a place where your greatest desire is to submit to Him, love Him, and trust Him.
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