Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?
4 sermons cite this verse
… What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous? Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last. The Gospel of the Lord. Thank you, Lord Jesus. I'd like you to have a seat. So a couple years ago, I was talking with one of our missionaries, and we have Focus here on Campus Course, and she was talking about one experience she had at Focus Training. So now they've Focus Training a couple different places. She was at training at Ave Maria University down in Florida. And so middle of the summer, super hot, and she had to cross the entire campus. Now, when you have focus training, apparently, apparently you have to, you have to wear a business casual. So you got to get dressed up to just to go to class. So she gets dressed up, goes to class, walks outside, super hot. …
… The last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew chapter 20, verses 1 through 16. It's a symbolic story, and Jesus is showing us that he's well aware of our tendency to compare ourselves to others. He knows that we imagine ourselves in a story of survival, in a race to the top of the food chain. And it's a dog-eat-dog world out there, survival of the fittest, competition for scarce resources, limited attention, diminishing returns. And if you get more for you and your people, then that means I have less for me and mine. And if I want more for me and my tribe, then I have to take it from you and yours or from someone's. And the clock is ticking and time is running out. Jesus understands our default view of the world. But in this parable about this odd vineyard owner, he offers an alternative. Because the owner doesn't see the world through the lens of competition, but participation. Not through the filter of scarcity, but generosity. …
… And that really is good news. If you have your Bible, turn to Matthew 20, verse 15, as Adrian Rogers shares part two of God is not fair. God is not fair, but God is good. Now you need to get the background of this passage of scripture. There's a man who has a vineyard. He needs some workers, so he goes out early in the morning at the beginning of the day and hires some laborers. Then he goes out again at nine and hires some more laborers. Then he goes out again at 12 and hires some more laborers. Then he goes in three in the afternoon and hires some more laborers, then also some at five at the last hour before sunset. Now pay time comes, and he starts with those who came last, and he gives them a day's wages. And then the ones who had been working all day said, Boy, this is going to be wonderful. Look, he gave those who only labored an hour a day's labor. …
… take that thine is and go thy way, and I will give unto the last even as I gave unto the first. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine heart evil because I am good? God is not fair, but God is good. Now you need to get the background of this passage of Scripture. There's a man who has a vineyard. He needs some workers, so he goes out early in the morning at the beginning of the day and hires some laborers. Then he goes out again at 9 and hires some more laborers. Then he goes out again at 12 and hires some more laborers. Then he goes in 3 in the afternoon and hires some more laborers, then also some at 5 at the last hour before sunset. Now pay time comes, and he starts with those who came last, and he gives them a day's wages. And then the ones who had been working all day said, boy, this is going to be wonderful. …