The New Life In Christ - “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” Matthew 20:15.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.

“He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the something. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all the day long doing nothing?’

“‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.

“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’

“When everything came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’

“The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the land owner. These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’

“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. “Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”

“So the last will be the first, and the first will be the last.” Matthew 20:1-16.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1.

"Blessed (happy) is he whose transgressions are forgiven, who sins are covered. Blessed (happy) is the man whose sin the Lord doesn't count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit." Psalm 32:1-2. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me. John 21:21-22.

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!” he demanded.

His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’

But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all the debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:23-35.

When we know God's forgiveness, we are blessed (happy). Only God is able. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - …and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. 1Peter 3:21.

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. …I tell you the truth that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:3-7.

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs (spiritual blessings) but because you ate the loves and had your fill (material blessings). John 6:26.

He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight. Luke 16:15.

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1Peter 3:4. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1John 1:10.

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles feet. The Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit…? You have not lied to men but to God.”

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananians got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Acts 5:1-11.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. 1John 1:10.

When you are full (with material blessings), not even honey (the teachings of God) tastes good. But when you are hungry (seeking Spiritual blessings), even something bitter (the teachings of God) tastes good. Proverb 27:7.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13.

He is patient with you, not waiting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2Peter 3:8-9. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21.

These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teaching are but rules taught by men. Matthew 15:8-9.

They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Matthew 23:4.

When you sin against…in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 1Corinthians 8:12.

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10.

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins… Matthew 9:6.

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

…Jesus replied, “If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

... “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven…”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.’

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:16-24.

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go, and work today in the vineyard.’

“I will not,” he answered, but later he changes his mind and went. (obey the commandments of God)

Then the father went to the other son, and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir.’ But he did not go. (did not obey the commandments of God)

Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. Matthew 21:28-32.

…there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he (Jesus) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2Corinthians 12:7-9.

He (Jesus) chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 1Corinthians 1:27-28.

“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it marvelous in our eyes.’ Matthew 21:42. Amen.

The New Life In Christ - Jesus is God’s chosen servant: No servant is greater than his master… John 13-1.

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and, whoever wants to be first must be your slave-just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve… Matthew 20:26-28.

Everything they do is done for men to see; They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; Matthew 23:5-6.

(But) ‘See, your king (Jesus) comes to you gentle and riding on a donkey,

 on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ Matthew 21:5.

He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. Matthew 12:19.

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. John 13:14-15. Amen.