Our nation is awash in a debate about justice. According to Trump, he is immune from legal consequences that others face. What sets it apart from the prevailing view on local laws, rules, and regulations? Parents set rules for their children but function as if they are not bound by those rules. Students interpret school or classroom rules in a similar way. Christians are not immune to God’s judgement just because they are on His team.
Jesus told a parable in Matthew 24:14-30 about a businessman with employees. He makes a point to say in the narrative that before the businessman took a long trip; he gave an opportunity to three employees to use their ingenuity to increase his money. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the third. When he returned from his trip, he called his employees in to report on the money He invested in them. We can see Jesus’ punch line in the allegory when He told how the third worker had buried the silver entrusted to him. He told his boss; I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. Instead of obeying his boss’s instruction, he separated himself from the other two and defended his independent attitude. Isn’t that what so many of us do, think we have a better idea, then defend our defiance?
Jesus said, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 (ESV). Are those the words of “a hard man” or of a loving Master who will not deprive me of anything He has designed for me? Perspective is absolutely crucial to the ideas I have. Everything rises or falls based on my attitude about God. My attitude towards Him decides my love and service for Him.
If I perceive God as hard, deceiving myself will lead to sad consequences. Ultimately, I perceive my service for Him as a thankless task, an unfair bondage, and an uncompensated duty. In this allegory, Jesus commanded his other employees to deal with this disrespectful employee in a far worse manner. He told them, Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will weep and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30, NLT2). This deserves serious thought. The sad outcome was a result of mental lies he held in his mind and heart about God.
Peter was pushing the envelope when he virtually insulted Jesus by saying, we’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get (Matthew 19:27, NLT2)? That exposed a doubt in Peter’s mind and heart as to whether he would be rewarded for his work! That was close to calling Jesus a harsh man. Let’s be real. We say we believe in God’s love and fairness; yet don’t we also treat Him as a harsh man by questioning why He allows bad things to happen to us? Thoughts pop into our heads whether He will really take care of us or intervene in what we see to be a crisis. It is like we are contradictory or double-minded Christians.
Tears do come to my eyes as I contemplate the possibility of my wonderful wife graduating into Heaven. But neither Connie nor I question His love and wisdom. I take solace in verses like this. God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do (Hebrews 6:10, NLT2). He faithfully brought us through very dark times, and He won’t change now. I don’t know what you are facing, but I know He will not forget you giving your all to love Him and His kingdom.