The order of things now may well be reversed in eternity.
30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Matthew 19
Jesus was speaking to His disciples and Peter had asked Him a direct question.
27 Peter answered him, ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields FOR MY SAKE will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Sacrifice for the Lord now will never be lost in the future.
This discussion with the disciples was preceded by Jesus’ meeting with the ‘Rich young man/ruler’, the only person recorded who ‘left Jesus sad’. Matthew 19:16-24 He would have been a man of standing, enjoying all the benefits of his wealth. By the standards of this world he was one the ‘First’.
Matthew Chapter 20, begins with a parable of ‘The workers in the vineyard’. It opens with the words, ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like’, as do many other parables.
20 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. Matthew 20
It continues with the owner going out TO THE MARKET-PLACE at the third hour (9am), then the sixth hour (midday), again at the ninth hour (3pm) and finally at the eleventh hour.
The owner went to the ‘market-place’ and the Church may be called there much more in the coming days to find workers for the Lord! When evening came (there’s only a certain time, a day to work) the owner told his foreman to pay them BEGINNING WITH THE LAST ONES HIRED AND GOING ON TO THE FIRST. ALL ALIKE RECEIVED ONE DENARIUS AND THE FIRST WERE ANGRY.
13 ‘But he answered one of them, “I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
They expected more because they’d worked longer, but it was the OWNER WHO SET THE WAGE.
16 ‘So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’
This time the order is reversed, no doubt to bring out the message of the parable. It’s not our work, but God’s Grace that determines what each one will have and He’s a generous God. No one will receive less than a day’s wage, but He’ll bless many others simply because He’s God. This time it’s about upgrade for those who were last, standing waiting all day for a chance to work.
“The share of those who went into battle and the share of those who stayed with the supplies will be divided equally.” 1 Samuel 30:24
King David also gave an equal share of the spoils to those who’d waited with the supplies.
God bless and keep you today.