Now after coming to this revelation and awareness of this short coming of mine, I took a step back and began to watch others. I did this in order to assess how many of us are actually happy with our situations. And after about two weeks of watching and listening, I have realized something. People are never satisfied. No matter how much we make, no matter how much we have, no matter how fat the bank account, regardless of how good things are people in general are never satisfied. but let me rewind to the start of this.
This all started about 3-4 weeks ago after a conversation I had at work with the owner of the dealership. We were talking about how he was going to go to a new pay plan for sales people, and how a lot of them probably would not be happy about it because they would have to work a little harder, but if they did they would basically be giving themselves a raise. He asked me what I thought about it and I told him that I thought it would probably be met with some complaining and whining because some would make more than others because of their work ethic. I also told him that I I had a different outlook on that and he asked me what I meant. So I told him. I try to work on a biblical basis that I agreed to do a job for a certain amount of pay, and even if someone who is less qualified than me hires on and makes more than me, that's none of my business.As long as I am paid according to what we agreed to for the job I do then I have no reason to be out running my mouth about how bad work is and how little I make. Now I also told him that didn't mean that I wouldn't ask for a raise because every person deserves a review of their performance and reward for a job well done. He shook his head and walked off before I could really finish what I was trying to say, which did not surprise me because if you can get the owner of the dealership I work at to stand still for 5 minutes, you have done an amazing thing lol.
But someone who heard me tell him this asked me how I could feel that way, especially with all I do there. This person told me that they knew for a fact there were a couple of people who don't do half of what I do and he was pretty sure they make more than me. So I told him the story that Jesus tells us in Matthew 20:1-15. In these verses Jesus tells us of a man who owns a vineyard. He gets up early one morning, probably about 6 am, he goes down to the local work corner and he hires himself a few men offering them a penny for the day and they agree. So they go back to the vineyard and start working. Well about 9 am, he's driving through town and sees a few guys standing around and he thinks, well my guys might need some help after all I do have a huge vineyard, so he hires a few more for the same pay. And again around noon and then again about 3 he does the same thing, each time offering the same pay. Then about 5, he sees some guys standing around and he says "hey, why have you been standing around all day idly, doing nothing?" They look at him and they reply, because no one has hired us. So he tells them go into my vineyard and work and I will do right by you come time to be paid. So that evening, he calls them all in and lines them up to pay them, starting with the last ones first, and the first ones last. Well the last hired received a penny, as did everyone one else. But the ones who were hired early in the morning about 6 think well wait a minute, those last guys worked one hour and I worked 12 and you payed them the same as me, whats that all about. We worked all day so in the heat and the sun, and now you are going to go and not pay us rightly? Well the man said wait one minute, I have done nothing wrong. Did not you agree to work all day for a penny? Well I paid you a penny so go on your way now and realize that it's not wrong for me to do with my money as I see. Is all you see evil just because I did the right thing?
When I got done with the story, I looked at him and I said, now, why should I care what you or anyone else in this building makes. Why should I care that I do 5 things and you may only do 2, and possibly you make more than me. I agreed to work for a certain amount of money, and as of yet, I have not been cheated out of that. So why should I sit around and complain about how much I make and how unfair it is that I have to do 5 things and so and so only does 2. SO WHAT. Also why should I care if the owner takes 10 vacations a year and I don't. It's his money and he can do with it as he sees fit. As long as I do the job I agreed to do and he pays me what he agreed to pay me, I have no room to complain. Easier said than done for most people.
Now, I will say this this scripture can also be looked at another way. Now there are several lessons to be learned in this scripture, but the one I am trying to get across tonight is that, God wants us to be satisfied. This does not mean that we are always going to have everything we want, but we will have what we need. Oh I know it may not feel like it. It's hard to look at a cupboard that's practically empty and say what am I going to feel my kids tonight, I know this for a fact because I have been in that position a few times in my life. But look at me, I have a surplus of meat on my bones shall we say. I have never gone hungry and neither have my children. I have had to eat poor man's bread (as I heard it called one time), or flour and water mixed then fried before,but I had something to eat. God never promised us an easy life, he has promised us that if we will put our faith and our lives in his hands, we will have what we need. We as a people have got to learn how to be satisfied no matter what.
Oh I know there are Churches and Pastors out there preaching that if you give to them that God will give you a Rolls Royce. If you give more to the church, to the point of putting yourself into financial trouble, then God will give you a mansion and all the money in the world. Well, guess what, the only person who benefits there is that church and or that Pastor. Prosperity Gospel has ruined a many peoples lives, and those preachers who have caused that will have to answer for that on that day they stand before God. But I tell you this, one who gives with a cheerful heart instead of being told they have to, will receive more blessings than any other. Those who live a satisfied life in Christ, will find themselves living a full life, because their heart is filled with Love.
One more quick story that I heard from my boss actually. He has a customer that has bought many a vehicle from him over the last 10 years or so. This man lost his wife several years back and went through a tough patch. He met this couple from Haiti and he had spoken with them on several occasions. he learned that the lady had become pregnant and they had decided to have an abortion. Well he went to talk to them but it was to late they were going in the clinics door as he pulled up, so he parked across the street where he could see the door, and he began to pray for them. Sometime later he saw them come out and after speaking to them, he found out they had realized they could not have the abortion because it was wrong and they felt like they were to keep the child. Now these folks decided to be satisfied with the fact that they were going to be parents and there was a reason for it. Well this man came to see the boss the other day and he bought this couple a minivan, as they had no car for a family. You see once this couple became satisfied with their situation, God was able to bless them. When people become satisfied with what they have and who they are in Christ, then will the blessing's of God become manifest n my opinion. Now I am not saying that someone is going to buy you a car or a house, but when you are satisfied in Christ, you will not want and you will not complain about your situation.
I pray that God keeps you safe until we meet again,and in the event that one of us passes from this world into the next before the next blog, then I will see you on the other side in Glory.God bless and good night all
Brother Bill Roy
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