Matthew 20--Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...

 

There is a well-known children's story that features a wicked queen who daily looks into a magical mirror and asks the question "whose the fairest of them all?" As long as the answer came back that she was,  everything was fine. When someone else became "fairer," the queen began to plot to get rid of this "competitor." Unfortunately, there are many people like that today. The world revolves around them and no one else. In Matthew 20, Jesus confronts this mentality first with a parable, then with his own disciples, and finally through His own example of the proper approach to life.

In the parable, Jesus told the story of a group of day laborers who agreed to work for an employer at a set price for the day. As they day went on, the employer hired more workers but paid them all the same regardless of how long they actually worked.  As you can imagine, the ones who worked the entire day were upset--even though they were paid the agreed amount. Their focus was on themselves and their "rights" rather than on the owner's right to do what he wants with his resources. Later, we see the mother of two of Christ's disciples requests that Christ give them higher positions of honor in His kingdom. Again, the focus was on themselves rather than on the One who has the right to do whatever He chooses. Jesus models the opposite attitude, one of selflessness, as He again describes His impending death (vv. 17-19) and then goes on to compassionately heal two blind men (vv. 29-34). Jesus gave up His genuine rights to everything so that He could suffer and die for us. We, on the other hand, try to claim rights that aren't even ours. We must stop looking into the mirror and think that everything revolves around us and start looking to God to see how He wants us to serve Him. We should be thankful for whatever God gives us and not look with envy at those around us who have received something different from the Lord.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

There is a well-known children's story that features a wicked queen who daily looks into a magical mirror and asks the question "whose the fairest of them all?" As long as the answer came back that she was,  everything was fine. When someone else became "fairer," the queen began to plot to get rid of this "competitor." Unfortunately, there are many people like that today. The world revolves around them and no one else. In Matthew 20, Jesus confronts this mentality first with a parable, then with his own disciples, and finally through His own example of the proper approach to life.

In the parable, Jesus told the story of a group of day laborers who agreed to work for an employer at a set price for the day. As they day went on, the employer hired more workers but paid them all the same regardless of how long they actually worked.  As you can imagine, the ones who worked the entire day were upset--even though they were paid the agreed amount. Their focus was on themselves and their "rights" rather than on the owner's right to do what he wants with his resources. Later, we see the mother of two of Christ's disciples requests that Christ give them higher positions of honor in His kingdom. Again, the focus was on themselves rather than on the One who has the right to do whatever He chooses. Jesus models the opposite attitude, one of selflessness, as He again describes His impending death (vv. 17-19) and then goes on to compassionately heal two blind men (vv. 29-34). Jesus gave up His genuine rights to everything so that He could suffer and die for us. We, on the other hand, try to claim rights that aren't even ours. We must stop looking into the mirror and think that everything revolves around us and start looking to God to see how He wants us to serve Him. We should be thankful for whatever God gives us and not look with envy at those around us who have received something different from the Lord.

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.