Comments on: Parables of the Kingdom - The Workers in the Vineyard http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/07/23/parables-of-the-kingdom-the-workers-in-the-vineyard/ Random wonderings about God and Life Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:34:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/07/23/parables-of-the-kingdom-the-workers-in-the-vineyard/#comment-1704 rupert Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:25:55 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/07/23/parables-of-the-kingdom-the-workers-in-the-vineyard/#comment-1704 great comments guys. One of the things i have been thinking about recently, which i think this parable is getting at, is how ingrained in our / my thinking is the concept of merit ... I have sacrificed so God better bless me; i have prayed so God will work on my behalf: i am a follower of jesus, so God will favour me. But truly God does seem to be outrageously generous to all, completely irrespective of their actions. That just goes so against the grain, it makes me mad! great comments guys.

One of the things i have been thinking about recently, which i think this parable is getting at, is how ingrained in our / my thinking is the concept of merit … I have sacrificed so God better bless me; i have prayed so God will work on my behalf: i am a follower of jesus, so God will favour me.

But truly God does seem to be outrageously generous to all, completely irrespective of their actions. That just goes so against the grain, it makes me mad!

]]> By: Andrew http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/07/23/parables-of-the-kingdom-the-workers-in-the-vineyard/#comment-1580 Andrew Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:36:29 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/07/23/parables-of-the-kingdom-the-workers-in-the-vineyard/#comment-1580 Tanya, yes it's interesting that those who were last seem forgotten about, attention does go to the first bunch. Your reflections seem to get to the heart of OUR response to Jesus's grace message. For me, once I got over the sheepishness, I'd probably feel quite buoyed and wonder at his personal generosity and at his ability to be unbowed by convention and group think. I wonder then whether (self-) justification is an issue common to both groups, cf word 'deserve'? Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline issued the challenge to observe how often in a day our words and actions are motivated by justifying ourselves. It was a bit of an eye opener for me. Thanks Tanya - very illuminating. Tanya, yes it’s interesting that those who were last seem forgotten about, attention does go to the first bunch. Your reflections seem to get to the heart of OUR response to Jesus’s grace message.

For me, once I got over the sheepishness, I’d probably feel quite buoyed and wonder at his personal generosity and at his ability to be unbowed by convention and group think.

I wonder then whether (self-) justification is an issue common to both groups, cf word ‘deserve’? Richard Foster in Celebration of Discipline issued the challenge to observe how often in a day our words and actions are motivated by justifying ourselves. It was a bit of an eye opener for me.

Thanks Tanya - very illuminating.

]]> By: Tanya Heasley http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/07/23/parables-of-the-kingdom-the-workers-in-the-vineyard/#comment-1578 Tanya Heasley Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:44:20 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/07/23/parables-of-the-kingdom-the-workers-in-the-vineyard/#comment-1578 As I tried to imagine myself as one of the workers, I thought about being both one of the first and one of the last. If I was the last, I think I would feel quite guilty. I sometimes feel bad when I am fotunate or blessed, I think it's because I don't believe that I've done anything to deserve it. When I imagine being one of the first, I feel quite annoyed with myself that I didn't think about standing around for hours like the others and instead started working straight away. I guess my feelings are jealous of the last workers, but upon reflection, I would prefer to be one of the first and to have worked all day for the same wage as the last, this would then give me the satisfaction that I have 'deserved' my earnings. But doesn't that sound like pride or boastful which could lead to other negative feelings? As I tried to imagine myself as one of the workers, I thought about being both one of the first and one of the last. If I was the last, I think I would feel quite guilty. I sometimes feel bad when I am fotunate or blessed, I think it’s because I don’t believe that I’ve done anything to deserve it.

When I imagine being one of the first, I feel quite annoyed with myself that I didn’t think about standing around for hours like the others and instead started working straight away. I guess my feelings are jealous of the last workers, but upon reflection, I would prefer to be one of the first and to have worked all day for the same wage as the last, this would then give me the satisfaction that I have ‘deserved’ my earnings. But doesn’t that sound like pride or boastful which could lead to other negative feelings?

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