December 4, 2005

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia 23860

Mural Worthey

 

The Advantages of Being a Servant

 

Introduction  (Matt. 20:1-28.)

 

   The events of this chapter happened in Jericho, according to verse 29.  Verse 17 further tells us that Jesus and his disciples were going up to Jerusalem.  Verses 18 & 19 reveal that this would be Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem.  There he would be crucified for the sins of the world and raised the third day.  What Jesus said here is significant.  It has far-reaching implications and defines who his disciples are.

 

Jesus said, “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.  Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and give his life a ransom for many.”  (20:27-28.)

 

   We could say accurately that these words of our Lord speak about the advantages of being a servant.  These words define our relationship to the Lord, to one another, and to others.  The first sixteen verses are a parable that Jesus spoke to them.  It is a parable about the kingdom of heaven, as were most of his parables.  But more specifically, it is about how one could be first and yet be last, be last and yet be first.  Chapter 20 springs forth from the last statement in chapter 19, verse 30.  It is about many being called, but only a few chosen.  (20:16.)  It is a parable about laborers going forth to work in the vineyard of God.  Therefore, it is about laborers or servants.  It is about the grace of God and how that is to be understood.  For that reason, I have called this message, “The Advantages of Being a Servant.”  There are many advantages indicated in these last words of Jesus, as they journeyed from Jericho to Jerusalem.

 

   John Claypool called this story “The Vineyard Owner and His Workers.”  (Stories Jesus Still Tells, 1993, 23-37.)

 

   Before we enumerate the advantages of being a servant, think first about the condition of these workers.  We would call these men day-laborers.  They gathered in a public place waiting for a land-owner to come by and hire them for that day.  These workers did not have a weekly, monthly or yearly contract with anyone.  They were dependent.  This English word, dependent, comes from a Latin word, dependere, which means to hang.  (See Webster’s Dictionary.)  Man is radically dependent upon Another.  We live and work today with a degree of security (human) that was unknown to these day-laborers or servants in first century Palestine.  They did not have a union to protect them, to guarantee them anything.  They were not land-owners; they were not rich.  They lived from day to day, from hand to mouth.  They were paid daily, not weekly or monthly.  In reality, these workers, waiting to be hired, adequately describe each of us.  We are dependent, or hang, on something else or Someone else.  We cannot support ourselves; we are not independent.  We rely entirely upon the mercy and goodness of Another.  In America, we are taught that this is undesirable and unacceptable.  We are taught to become self-sufficient and not dependent upon anyone.  If we buy into this self-sufficient view, we may never understand our true relationship to our Creator.  We are dependent upon Him.  We cannot exist apart from Him.  Paul said it correctly, “In Him we live and move and have our being.”  (Acts 17:28.)

 

   Only in this setting and sense can we begin to understand the advantages of being a servant.  This is so contrary to all that we have been taught and that human nature desires.  We do not want to be left hanging or depending upon anyone.  Yet, there are many advantages of such a predicament.  We can depend upon God.  The last will be first and the first will be last.  That is what this parable is about.

 

   John Claypool asked his readers to imagine that there were 30 workers in the public square waiting to be hired.  The Bible does not say how many there were, but suppose that 6 workers were hired at the beginning of the day, at the 3^rd, 6^th, 9^th and 11^th hour of the day.  When the first six workers were hired, they took off to the fields.  They did not ask about the others; whether they would be hired or not.  That did not protest that others were left standing.  That is the way human nature works—when it falls in our favor, he stay quiet.  But at the end of the day, when those left behind were paid the same amount as they were, those who bore the burden and heat of the day complained.  Herein we find our first advantage of being a servant.

 

 

 

 

We Are Serving a Gracious Master  (20:15.)

 

   Being a servant might not always have advantages.  It depends upon whom we are serving.  If the master is cruel and unkind, then there are not many advantages.  But there is a secret to enjoying the advantages of being a servant.  We can have the Christian attitude even when our masters or employers are unkind.  The point is that we have no choice in the matter about being a servant and dependent.  That is who we are and God is our Master.  He is good and gracious.  It is easy to be dependent upon him when you know him.  The Lord replied to those who were complaining about their pay, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?  Is thine eye evil because I am good?”  (20:15.)  The ancients spoke of the eye being evil when they were referring to envy and malice.  No passions are so fully expressed by the eye as these traits.  You can see it in the eyes of others.  They did not say anything when they were the first to be hired.  But at the end of they day when they were paid, they looked with envy and despise their Lord because he was gracious to the others.

 

   We must remember that our human condition, being sinful and disobedient to God, puts us in a dependent condition upon God.  His offer of salvation is out of grace and goodness.  We do not earn anything.  It is not a matter of hours worked and wages earned.  Jesus used a common story about workers and land owners to teach important principles about his Kingdom.  He turned everything upside down.  The greatest person is the servant, not the master.  Everyone got paid the same amount regardless of how long they worked.  The last is first and the first is last.

 

Jesus said, “So likewise, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants.  We have done that which was our duty to do.”  (Luke 17:10.)

 

   This is an important lesson to learn.  God is our Master in heaven.  As our Master, he is just and good.  He allows us to work in his vineyard and enter into his presence.  Don’t complain when God forgives a murderer, an adulterer, a liar, a thief, etc.  We all have sinned and fallen short.  We are not better than other sinners.  We are all alike.  Remember the publican and the Pharisee when they went up into the temple to pray.  The Pharisee really thought that he was better than the sinful publican.  But he wasn’t.

 

   This gracious Master puts the first last and the last first.  God is the God of the eleventh hour.  He allows men to go to work when the day is almost over. (Matt. 20:6.) But he is also the God of the second chance.  (Jer. 18:3-4.)  He lovingly received the prodigal son back home again. (Luke 15.)  God is the God of the fifth sparrow.  (Luke 12:6, Matt. 10:29.)  The fifth sparrow was the one that cost nothing, yet God cared about even that sparrow.  God is the God of the fourth generation.  (Gen. 15:13-16.)  God promised to bring Abraham’s descendants out of Egyptian bondage in the fourth generation.  (Exodus 6:16-20.)  The four generations are named: Levi, Kohath, Amram, and Moses.  Moses led them out of bondage.  God is also the God of one thousand hills.  He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  (Psalm 50:10.)  God owns everything; he can take care of us.  He can supply our needs.  There are advantages to serving Someone who owns everything.  He can easily meet our needs.  The promise is made that if we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all these things shall be added unto us.  (Matt. 6:33.)

 

   Another Jewish parable.  There is another Jewish parable that both parallels and illumes Jesus’ story.  It is about a Jewish farmer who lived in Poland.  For generations before him, his family had been very poor.  One night he was awakened by an angel of the Lord, who said: You have found favor in the eyes of your Maker.  He wants to do for you what he did for your ancestor Abraham.  He wants to bless you.  Therefore, make any three requests that you will of God, and he will be pleased to give them to you.  There’s only one condition: your neighbor will get a double portion of everything that is given to you.

 

   Well, the farmer was so startled by all this that he woke up his wife and told her all about the words of the angel.  She insisted they put the whole thing to the test.  So they prayed that God would give them a herd of one thousand cattle that would enable them to break out of the poverty in which they had lived for generations.  No sooner had they made the request of God they heard the sound of cattle outside.  Lo and behold, all around the house were a thousand healthy cattle!

 

   During the next two days, the Jewish farmer hardly touched the ground.  He divided his time between praising God for his great generosity and beginning to make practical provisions for his new wealth.  On the third afternoon, he was up on a hill behind his house, trying to decide where to build a new barn, when for the first time, he looked across at his neighbor’s field, and there stood out from the green hillside two thousand magnificent cattle.  For the first time since the angel of the Lord had appeared, the joy within him evaporated, and a scowl of envy took its place.  He went home that evening in a foul mood, refused to eat supper, and went to bed in an absolute rage.  He couldn’t fall asleep because every time he closed his eyes, all he could see were the two thousand cattle that his neighbor had.

 

  During the night, he remembered that the angel said that he could make three requests from God.  With that he shifted his attention away from his neighbor and back to his won situation, and the old joy quickly returned.  Digging deep into his heart to fund out what else he really wanted, he began to realize that in addition to some kind of material security, he had always wanted descendants to carry on his name into history.  So he prayed a second time.  “Gracious God, if it please thee, give me a child that I may have descendants.”  In due time, his wife was with child and they rejoiced together that they would be parents at long last.

 

   The next months were passed in unbroken joy.  The farmer was busy assimilating his newly acquired affluence, and looking forward to becoming a parent.  On the night his first child was born, he was absolutely overjoyed.  The next day was the Sabbath.  He went to the synagogue, and at the time of prayers of the people, he stood up and shared with the gathered community his joyful news. He had hardly sat down, however, when his neighbor also stood up.  He said, God has been good to me as well.  My wife and I are expecting twins!  On hearing that, the farmer went home in an utterly different mood from the one in which he came.  Instead of being joyful, he was filled with the canker of jealousy.

 

   And this time, the dark emotions did not abate.  Late that evening, he made his third and final request of God, which was, Please, gouge out my right eye.  No sooner had he said these words than the angel appeared to him again.  Why, son of Abraham, have you turned to such dark desirings?  With pent-up rage, the farmer replied, I can’t stand to see my neighbor prosper.  I’ll gladly sacrifice half of my vision for the satisfaction of knowing that he’ll never be able to look on what he has.  These words were followed by a long silence, and as the farmer looked, he saw tears forming in the eyes of the angel.

 

   The angel said, Why, O son of Abraham, have you turned the occasion to bless into a time of hurting?  Your third request will not be granted, not because the Lord lacks integrity, but because he is full of mercy.  However, know this, O foolish one, you’ve brought sadness, not only to yourself, but to the very heart of God.  (Stories Jesus Still Tells, Claypool, 28-31.)

 

   The parallel between these two stories is obvious.  In both cases, the farmer and the workers had nothing in the beginning, knew themselves to be dependent beings, then blessings came to them.  As long as they focused on what had been given to them, their experience was one of great joy.  In both cases, however, what had at first been the occasion of great celebration turned into something very different, because they gave way to envy and looking at what their neighbors had.  They began to compare what they had to what others had, rather than to what they had at the beginning, and in both cases it turned their joy into bitterness.  If you want to be miserable, then compare what you have to what others have.  Invariably, there’ll be someone who has done better than you, who may not have worked as hard or as long.  Joy comes when he remember how gracious God has been to all of us.

 

   Life is a windfall in itself.  Just to have the experience of life is a great blessing.  Do not let envy or dark feelings that you have been cheated in life steal away your joy.  Acknowledging that God is your Master in heaven will assure you of happiness and all the security that you will ever need.

 

Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give unto your bosom.          For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  (Luke 7:38.)

 

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house and prove me now herewith, said the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  (Malachi 3:10.)

 

Being a Servant Keeps Us from Being Idle

 

   The vineyard owner asked the workers, “Why stand ye here idle all day?” (20:7.)  Idleness causes many problems for man.  It causes all kinds of dark and gloomy thoughts to enter into the mind.  Being busy is healthy for both body and mind.  It is the best therapy for most of the things that trouble us in life.  Idleness causes sinful thoughts to flood our minds.  Having too much free time to use it as we please may be a great temptation to those who are less mature.  The old proverb is still true; that is, An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.  When one works hard during the day, the night’s rest is sweet and peaceful.  God gives to his beloved sleep.

 

   Jesus said, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”  (Matt. 12:36-37.)  The word, idle, here is the same as found in Matthew 20:3, 6.  It means words that are said while unemployed.  You do not anything to keep you busy; therefore, you speak words that you ought not.  The idle widows of 1 Timothy 5 went from house to house speaking idle works that they ought not to have spoken.  (5:12-13.)  Paul called them tattlers and busybodies.  Being a servant keeps one from speaking idle words and, thus, from being condemned.

 

   The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 did not “eat the bread of idleness.”  (31:27.)  The wise man said that through idle hands a house deteriorates and falls down.  (Eccl. 10:18.)

 

   The owner asked the workers why do you stand idle all day long?  There is work for you to do.  Jesus told Peter, who had gone back to fishing after Jesus’ death, “Feed my sheep.”  (John 21:16.)  Every person is invited to work in the vineyard that belongs to the Lord.  There is enough work to keep everyone busy for a lifetime.

 

   Many are called but few are chosen.  This is a common proverbial expression used by our Lord.  See Matthew 22:14 and 20:16.  Last shall be first and first last as well as this saying both refer to the actions and decisions of the workers.  This is not about a sovereign decision of the Lord concerning who will be saved, but rather a choice of mankind.  God desires everyone to go into the vineyard and work, or to be saved.  Paul explained that God hath from the beginning chosen us unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth; whereunto he called us by the Gospel.  (2 Thess. 2:13-14.)  Therefore, we are all called by the Gospel.  The Gospel is to be preached to everyone and all nations.  (Matt. 28, Mark 16)  We are chosen when we belief the truth of the Gospel and go work in the Kingdom of God.  Many, in fact, all are called, but few are chosen because they do not want to trust in God; they do not want to hang on to his promises and be dependent upon him.

 

 

A Servant of the Lord---Most Satisfying

 

   In this parable, the workers went to work in a vineyard.  This was agricultural work, tending to vines that produced grapes.  Vineyards were common in first century Palestine.  Unless you have the heart of Jesus Christ, one’s occupation or vocation can become boring.  One can reach the point where they just put in the hours and punch the time card.  Work and life becomes difficult when we do not enjoy what we are doing.  Man needs a noble purpose in his life’s work.  The Christian has the highest, most noble, most purposeful role.  And it does not matter what your occupation is; you need not become a minister in a church in order to have this satisfaction and fulfillment.

 

Servants, obey in all your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.  And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance. For you serve the Lord Christ.  But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong that he hath done, and there is no respect of persons.  (Col. 3:22-25.)

 

   This gives the servant of the Lord a noble and high reason for serving well, regardless of one’s position and occupation in life.  There is little wonder that Paul, James and other New Testament writers often started their letters by referring to themselves as servants of the Lord.  James did not call himself the brother of Jesus Christ, but rather a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (James 1:1.)

 

Being a Servant---Possibility for Everyone

 

   Another advantage of being a servant is that everyone can be one.  Not everyone can be a lord, President of the US, head of a large corporation, or the Queen of England.  But everyone can be a servant.  Therefore, everyone can be great in the eyes of God.

 

   Elisha the man of God sent messengers to Naaman the leper to tell him to go dip seven times in the Jordan River.  (2 Kings 5:10.)  Naaman went away angry when he heard those words. But his servants reasoned with him saying, “If the prophet had bid thee to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much rather then, when he said, Wash and be clean?”  (2 Kings 5:13.)  The servants understood this matter of doing little things that God commands us to do.  Not everyone can do great things.  That would leave out many of us.  But everyone can repent and be baptized.  Everyone can love others.  (John 13:35.)  That is our badge of discipleship.  Everyone can serve others.  That is what God requires of us.

 

Lessens Conflicts Among Brethren

 

   The twelve apostles got upset with James and John because their mother asked Jesus to give them special places in his Kingdom.  (Matt. 20:20-24.)  When one is trying to obtain a position above another, invariably conflicts arise.  In the Kingdom of our Lord, there are no chief seats above others.  There is only one Lord and Master; the rest are servants.  The chief or great among brethren is the servant.  (20:26-28.)

 

   If the apostles had understood this lesson earlier, this conflict would never have arisen.  Jesus washed their feet at the Passover before his crucifixion in order to emphasize this truth.  (John 13.)  Someone wrote that in that upper room during the last Passover, there were twelve lords and one servant.  When Paul went to Jerusalem about the Galatian controversy, some exalted themselves above others.  Paul said that whatever they were trying to be mattered not to him.  (Gal. 2:6.)  Serving others makes one more like Jesus.  He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.  (20:28.)

 

   It is interesting what Paul wrote to the Ephesians about keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  He wrote that endeavoring to keep that unity, we should remember that there is one Lord.  (Eph. 4:5.)  This will help us today to lessen conflicts among us if we recall that there is only one Lord.

 

   We are like the apostles and the two farmers in the Jewish parable.  The path to happiness and peace is to keep our eyes on what we have and be filled with gratitude.  God is good to all.  If he chooses to bless someone else with great blessings, rejoice with them.  Paul wrote, “Rejoice with those who rejoice.  Weep with those who weep.”  (Rom. 12:15.)  Greater blessings mean greater responsibility.  God blessed Abraham so that he could be a blessing to others.  (Gen. 12:2.)  “To whom much is given, much shall be required.”  (Luke 12:48.)

 

The Servant Has Less Responsibility

 

   If you think about it, another advantage of being a servant is that you do not have as great a responsibility as the owner or master.  Jesus is the only Lord.  We ought not to want to take his place.

 

   Jesus asked James and John, “Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”  They foolishly responded, We are able.  Then Jesus said, “You shall indeed drink of my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.”  (20:20-23.)

 

   Jesus bore great responsibility for being our Savior and Lord.  That is the way it is with all leaders even on a lesser level.  Parents bear a greater responsibility than children.  Political leaders bear heavier responsibilities than citizens.  How would you like to be the one to decide to enter into warfare with another country?  Elders watch for our souls.  We should be cautious that we do not want that “position” for the wrong reasons.  It is given to those who are prepared of the Father.  It is a position of great responsibility, not one to be clamored after like a child who wants to go first down the slide.

 

   No one but Jesus could bear our sins.  He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.  Even the apostles could not fill that role.  They would have a great role to fill, but not this one.  They would suffer greatly for the Cause of Christ.  To be like the Lord means that you serve like He did.