Jesus knew that this issue would pose a problem for folks. He addressed it with the parable of the workers in the field (Matthew 20). Reader's Digest version:Originally Posted by mperry
A landowner needs help in his vineyard and hires a bunch of laborers at 8:00am. He says I'll pay you dudes $20 a day. While those guys are working, he goes out at lunch and then again at supper and hires more guys.
At the end of the day, everyone lines up for their moolah. And it seems that everyone was hired at $20 a day, including the guys who came in at supper and only worked an hour or two.
The guys who worked all day said "Whoa dude, that ain't cool! We worked 10 times longer than those other slackers!"
The landowner said in reply, "Chill! Didn't I give you what we agreed upon? I want to pay the latecomers the same as you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my cash? Or are you jealous because I'm generous"?
This is where the "last shall be first and first shall be last" verse is found.
The best way I can answer that question is this. Yep, all Christians wrestle against sin all their lives. Even Paul, who wrote a lot of the New Testament, wrote about a "thorn in his flesh" some scholars think was some sort of personal sin.
But here's the difference: Believers aren't sinners any more, they're children of God who still sin. My identity is not the same as it was, because it's no longer my identity, it's Christ's identity in me.
The life of a Christian is one of becoming more like Christ every day. If it's working the way it's designed to, every day we lose some of our own sin nature and take on more of Jesus's nature. Any good that I do is Christ in me, any sin I commit, it's my sin nature trying to stay alive.
It's a rough road at times, and sometimes it's one step forward and two steps back. But God promises that he will "continue the work he has begun" in those who believe in Him.
Reply With Quote