He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another servant but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.” (Luke 20:9-12)
This parable brought thoughts of opposite circumstances: home-schooled children with loving parents who coddle them 24/7 in love. Sometimes their parents leave them for a couple hours, but never for a long time. Their parents are their best friends, and the children do whatever their parents ask until they reach eighteen, sometimes older. If they have loving parents, they live in bliss.
We could’ve lived in paradise if God would’ve stayed with us in the world and eliminated fallen angels. We would’ve worked in his vineyard as servants because of our love for Him. Without an enemy to tempt us, life would’ve been good.
Instead, he took billions of years to cultivate a vineyard and left us in it, sending servant/prophets and written word to tell us about Himself. The leaders built a kingdom/temple, gave themselves power, wounded or killed the prophets God sent, and twisted the written word, leaving future Christians to judge and tell people they will go to hell if they don’t believe in God. But God tells us in His Word not to judge (Matthew 7:1), that all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26), that God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all (Romans 11:32), and that the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live (John 5:25). Whenever those Christians have the chance to interpret, they shout words of an unloving God, driving people from His kingdom. Fruit is love, joy, and peace, and many “Christian” vineyards don’t produce any.
God gives us free will. He wants us to be humble, repent, seek him, find Him, love Him first, and read His word and interpret it knowing His love. It is only then that we can fully appreciate God’s love and refuge and that He can rejoice that we chose Him, not the world.
The fifth step to leaving a bad habit or trait at the cross is to love God, not the world.
Father God Almighty, holy is Your name. Thank you for sending Jesus to save me. As I study Your word, help me listen and receive Your wisdom. Forgive my wrongdoings and take authority over my heart. Destroy its walls, so I can feel Your love. When I start to love things of the world, stop me. Loving you first is the only thing that will make me happy. Lord, as I approach the cross with You in the Study of Luke, I want to leave ____________ there. Prepare me, Lord. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
I read this while we were away for the weekend and didn’t comment. Part of the reason I didn’t comment was, I wasn’t quite sure how to comment. I am unclear about what you mean about loving God first (get that) and not the World (don’t get that). Do you mean not loving worldly things. I understand loving God first and not putting possessions or things we could possess before God. It is more important that God always comes first and that we realize that God doesn’t care what our home looks like, or what kind of car that we drive. Our heart is what is important to him.
Loving the world is wanting money, power, and possessions and listening to what the world teaches. For example, God teaches that leaders should be humble and use God’s strength. The world expects the opposite.