Are You Envious Because I Am Generous?

Click here to view the Sermon Reflection Guide.

Generosity. This is something that can be controversial to think about. Generosity can easily give rise to jealousy and envy in the human heart instead of grace and gratitude. Something in our hearts leans more toward jealousy when we see or hear about other people's generosity, even if it is a generosity that we are a beneficiary of. We serve a God who is gracious and generous beyond comprehension. This generosity is on display in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 20:1-16.

This parable reminds us that Jesus is all about bringing people into the work of God. There is always work to be done, and whether someone comes in at the first hour or the eleventh hour, God wants them there and will be generous with them in turn. And we’re called, like God, to be generous with others in return, people who receive the blessings of God with an open hand and share the blessings of God with an open hand. We are called to be generous in the big moments of our lives and the smallest moments of our lives.