唯獨基督(6)：「帶著感恩的心事奉主」

主題經文：太20:1-16

背誦經文：所以我們既得了不能震動的國，就當感恩，照 神所喜悅的，用虔誠、敬畏的心事奉 神。(來12:28)

A) 蒙召事奉主乃是祂的恩典

· 因為天國好像家主清早去雇人進他的葡萄園做工…(太20:1)

· 『你們為甚麼整天在這裏閒站呢？』7 他們說:『因為沒有人雇我們。』(太20:6-7)

· 所以我們既得了不能震動的國，就當感恩，照 神所喜悅的，用虔誠、敬畏的心事奉 神。(來12:28)

B) 從始至終，都存感恩的心

v 由「比較」到「埋怨」

· § 11 他們得了，就埋怨家主說： 12 『我們整天勞苦受熱，那後來的只做了一小時，你竟叫他們和我們一樣嗎？』 13 家主回答其中的一人說：『朋友，我不虧負你，你與我講定的不是一錢銀子嗎？ 14 拿你的走吧！我給那後來的和給你一樣，這是我願意的。 15 我的東西難道不可隨我的意思用嗎？因為我作好人，你就紅了眼嗎？』(太20:11-15)

· § 我的心哪，你要稱頌耶和華！不可忘記祂的一切恩惠！(詩103:2)

C) 每一個機會都感恩的從主領受

v 葡萄園比喻的重點在於：

1) 人是不是能夠感恩的從主領受所給他的每一個機會？是不是能夠忠心地在主所給他的托付中討主喜悅、榮耀 神？

2) 事奉主最重要的還不是在於我們外面得到什麼賞賜，而是我們在服事主的過程中變成了一個怎樣的人？我們學到了什麼？塑造出了什麼像主的品格 (Christ-like character)？…這才是我們在服事過程中最寶貴的得著。

D) 為什麼主耶穌在結尾說：「這樣，那在後的，將要在前；在前的，將要在後了。」(v16) ？

Christ Alone (6): Serve the Lord with a Thankful Heart

Key Scriptures: Matt 20:1-16

Memorization Scripture(s): Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  (Heb. 12:28)

1. Being called into service of the Lord is of His grace

· For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. (Matt 20:1)

·  ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ (Matt 20:6b-7a)

· Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  (Heb. 12:28)

2. Have a thankful heart from the beginning to the end

v  From ‘compare’ to ‘complain’

· ¹¹And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ ¹³ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. ¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ (Matt 20:11-15)

· Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.      (Ps 103:2)

3.  Receive every opportunity with thanksgiving as from the Lord

v The key questions of the parable of the workers in the vineyard:

1) Are we able to be thankful for every opportunity received from the Lord?  Are we able to be faithful concerning the commission the Lord has given us and to please Him and glorify Him in all things? 

2) The most important part of serving the Lord has little to do with the outward rewards that we receive. What manner of person have we become in the process of serving Him?  What have we learned? Have we cultivated any Christ-like character? These are most precious in the process of serving the Lord.

4.   Why did the Lord conclude by saying, “So the last will be first, and the first last?” (v. 16)