Let's Grow Up - Part 2 -There Are No Unions In Heaven

There is a story told about a landowner who went out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. After agreeing to pay the workers the usual day's wages, he sent them to work in his vineyard. About 9 a.m. he saw others standing in the marketplace without work. He said to them, 'Work in my vineyard, and I'll give you whatever is right.' So they went. "He went out again about noon and 3 p.m. and did the same thing. About 5 p.m. he went out and found some others standing around. He said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day long without work?' " 'No one has hired us,' they answered him. "He said to them, 'Work in my vineyard.'

"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told the supervisor, 'Call the workers, and give them their wages. Start with the last, and end with the first.' "Those who started working about 5 p.m. came, and each received a day's wages. When those who had been hired first came, they expected to receive more. But each of them received a day's wages. Although they took it, they began to protest to the owner. They said, 'These last workers have worked only one hour. Yet, you've treated us all the same, even though we worked hard all day under a blazing sun.' "The owner said to one of them, 'Friend, I'm not treating you unfairly. Didn't you agree with me on a day's wages? Take your money and go! I want to give this last worker as much as I gave you. Can't I do what I want with my own money? Or do you resent my generosity towards others?'

If this story sounds familiar it may be because you recall having read this in the Bible. (Matthew 20)

This is a story told by Jesus to illustrate what the kingdom of heaven is like. Certainly there are several principles that we can glean from this lesson as applied to many areas of our lives. It may be helpful to study the passage within the context of Jesus' circumstance among the disciples and teachers of the region. The lesson as applied in relation to this post on envy and covetousness is found in exploring the reaction of the supposedly slighted workers in comparison with recent events in our "common era". (A.D. vs C.E. post in process)

Our first instinctive reaction is to side with the workers who worked hard all day and feeling somehow they were treated un-fairly. Had there been union representation in this crowd the owner of the vineyard would have been strong armed into paying out amounts equated to the hours worked. These tactics have been used in the past and are used today not only by unions and big labor executives, but also by government and most recently by the Obama administration. Not long ago a crowd of Obama supporters, members of ACORN, were encouraged to protest at the private homes of chief banking executives. Expressions of outrage revealing violent intent set the tone of the medias message for the day. At a subsequent meeting with some of these executives in an effort to secure concessions from the banking industry, Obama told them "my administration is the only thing between you and the pitchforks". This is not characteristic of great leadership, rather it is an indication of one who seeks ultimate control.

Envy and covetousness is a valuable tool of the left and they have found a way to make it trendy and effective. Manipulating the emotional response of an immature and miseducated populace to gather and focus intimidating pressure is a tactic of political despots. This is not the wisdom found in the kingdom of heaven.

As Christians, citizens of the heavenly kingdom, we should be quick to identify this type of immature reasoning, and to guard against it in our lives and to teach others about its dangers.As a self governing people we have created laws to protect us from abusive employers who go far beyond the supposed slight that the workers in Jesus story imagine. However, we have few laws that protect us from abusive government and their allies. Has justice been served by the recent forced takeover of GM? Their executives have certainly made un-wise decisions but their sad situation was taken advantage of by an administration obsessed with the desire to control.

Ask any of the GM dealers,employees and members of surrounding communities if they feel better now that justice has been done? Now that greed and envy at GM has been curtailed by our compassionate government, where do these thousands of people find work? Local merchants and service industries have lost significant revenue because of these closings. The media has made little mention of the negative impact to the local communities, civic organizations and charities that these dealerships supported.

There has been growing concern about the overreaching political tactics of this leftist regime. Hopefully this concern will develop into responsible political action. However, many are still foolishly looking to Washington for leadership and help in getting even with imagined capitalist villains. Envy and covetousness are getting the better of us as we surrender our liberty in exchange for the porridge of cradle to grave welfcare and the promise of a bright healthy future.

Next Post - Let's Grow Up part 3 - Robin Hoods Big Brother

Psalm 32:12
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