Let's Let God Be God, Part 2

Here's an honest question ever feel disappointed you didn't come through for you sure most of us can point to events that didn't turn out the way we hope when that happens, the natural tendency is to feel slighted today on Insight for living Chuck's one dollars teaching from Matthew chapter 20. This portion of our comprehensive study through Matthew's gospel we discover yet another attribute of God on radiant display the justice or the fairness of God. Check title today's message.

Let's let God be God. Especially to you that some things on prayer have occurred in your life and you will truth be told, though you may have never put it in these words you feel disappointed in God for allowing that to happen, why would it occur in your life as it is when there are so many others were that has not happened, and a thousand other possibilities we can view our father from all walks of life from different parts of this country and from other countries as well. We come under this roof. One of the few places where your people are in the majority and we come to to listen to learn to change our minds so that they are aligned with your thinking and our wills set in motion in your direction. The switch is difficult.

The adjustment is not without disillusioning moments, and I pray today for those who struggle with their current situation, which is nothing like they thought it would be years ago we send our father to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves with others.

I pray that you will cut yourself short before we allow that to continue and give us the ability to think things through. From your perspective.

May we enter into the world of the landowner. The day laborers and the way you dealt with all of them in the way the story is told as to how it ties in with the way we live our lives.

Give me the ability to say it, and to say it in a way that makes sense and deliver us from being preoccupied or set in our ways are stubborn, so much so that before your truth is the opportunity to enter.

It meets up with the stiff arm of pushback and is not allowed to enter.

Give us soft soil in our souls to receive the good seed. We pray this day for those who lead this country and we pray for wisdom from those who give counsel those who make decisions. Ours is a world in turmoil.

Danger about us threats occurring every week and often tragedy unfolds in unexpected ways and unpredicted places give us father the mind of Christ that we might see things from his perspective help us all. For we are as we often say to you, we are all just human and because of long-standing habits. We cling to what we have always believed, even though they may be wrong. So help us. We pray to come to terms with what is right is difficult as it is. Thank you for those who defend us watch over them and give them safety that they might return to their families. Thank you father for the privilege of making Christ known and for those who take your message to places we will never go and to serve you in ways that we can hardly imagine, thank you for their sacrifices for their willingness. There their great hearts senses of humor love for family confidence in your will hold them close to yourself keep their marriages strong in their hearts. Warm were giving our gifts today Lord confident that you will use these gifts for your glory and that you might through these gifts turn others as well as our eyes on Jesus, that we might look full in his wonderful face is in his name we give and in that name we pray.

Everyone said amen you're listening to Insight for living to study the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll.

Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures study by going to Insight world.or/studies. Another message from Chuck titled, let's let God be God. I read years ago the little saying comparisons are odious and I do know the word odious man. Since I never use the word so I check a dictionary it means to arouse hatred, disgust and contempt words. I spent a lot of my time comparing myself with others isn't long before I feel contempt toward others. Here are some examples.

Your health is failing one another who is older seems never to be sick.

Your son has a disability. Where is the family next door has a number of kids.

Not one of whom has a disability.

The tornado wipes out your house, take everything you own next door. There is even a shingle missing from the roof or window broken don't get lost in the trap of comparison is a dead-end street that will build within you.

Contempt and resentment and make you grow older, a negative person. I wish Monty Williams were here to hear this. I didn't know who he was either. I don't follow professional basketball that closely you do know that money went to Notre Dame 68 basketball star Matt Ingrid.

Ultimately they came together five kids he would enter professional basketball than when mood today different cities playing the game and coaching and winds up in Oklahoma City. Monty and Ingrid with their five kids latest issue of Sports Illustrated tells Monty story I read every word of it and wish I knew Monty I would love to bring a little bit of encouragement if I could. Monty and Ingrid both fine Christian people engaged in the community and church life in community work kids doing well in school.

Life unfolds in and in the rather wonderful way for them as he is in this sports world and their friends are athletes and and you know what that must've been like and the morning of February 9, 2016. Everything changed, everything changed.

Monies are finishing what he's doing and I Ingrid's already got the kids ready at 715 and she walks out the door with several the kids behind her and and making her way to school, doctors appointments, ultimately games that she takes the kids to and church work. She was involved in and this morning is different because Monty doesn't know it but he will. He will not in that day as he began it little after 8 PM, Ingrid's wife was driving north on a four-lane road downtown Oklahoma City in the family's SUV with faith than 15 Chana 13 and Micah in the car, a sedan driven by a 52-year-old woman named Susanna Donelson approached from the opposite direction during the preceding hours. Toxicology reports would show Donelson had taken a substantial amount of methamphetamine police also believe she may have been cradling a dog in her lap while driving.

By the time she approached the 1400 block of S. Western Ave., Oklahoma City.

She was in the left lane going more than twice the posted speed limit, the limit was 40 sissies going over 80 in the wrong lane. She swerved to avoid the car in front of her sending her vehicle across the centerline impact with Ingrid's SUV was handle Donelson of the dog died in the scene. The Williams family was rushed to the hospital. The days following local television reporters stood with the road.

Grim face, noting the dark burn marks, staining the asphalt the spray of glass debris lying on the side of the road newscast showed photos of Ingrid and Monty together, her face frozen in that familiar smile and her at a thunder game. Interviews role with NBA coaches and players they're all difficult to watch warned the reporter.

Monty clung to the fact that the children all survived without life-threatening injuries.

For a while it seemed Ingrid might tube at the following afternoon. She slipped away. Ingrid was 44. Try to enter into Monty's world now has a responsibility of five children and the wife of his life. His best friend go close friends still have their wives all the players on the team still have their wives monies thinking at the time with frustration and anger consuming him. The Lord could do anything. So why hadn't he moved that car.

Why couldn't he have made Ingrid leave 10 minutes later why did or or or or a second earlier or second later why did three of his kids have to suffer through all it's a matter of seconds you track me in this year there don't stay away from the story enter into it. I was almost there the other day on driving along the road 3035 mile an hour speed limit. I'm approaching an intersection the light is green it's been green I don't hurry to make it green. It's green people live aside, or just coming across and all of a sudden against the red light, a I called a Texas pickup with wheels about a size of a man who was going along right through his red light and I've been there three seconds earlier, I wouldn't be here today people on the other side us their car lurches to assist online the same as this is God's guess it was a guy speech by how it happened.

These examples could be multiplied by the dozens, but I wanted to take the time so you would enter into this because you know little about vineyards like I do and we know little about the laborers in the story is about both when in fact it's really about more is about life is about the fairness in the goodness of God.

So what we have here in a resort is a main character in this case, the main character is the land owner. Verse one.

These out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and and and send them out to work so this is but this is daybreak or maybe even before debris so the workers were promised you work for me today. I'll pay you the denarius that today's wage got no not a clock comes your Bible reads 1/3 hour we got another group he was passing through the marketplace.

Also people standing around doing nothing.

So we hired them. That's group to telling them he would pay them when I was right at the end of the day so they were to work in the vineyard at noon.

Group 3 at 3 o'clock group for at 5 o'clock verse six group 5, you would think we have five groups of day laborers work the vineyard for this land owner.

He pays the people whom the yard last first and he pays limited areas see that verse nine when those hired at 5 o'clock repaid each received full day's wage. Okay they worked in our evening is around six and and they got today's wage and that's fine and the next group came in they been hard first so they were painted in areas and that's when trouble started. Before going further will give you the main message major words.

The major message of the parable God's grace is just and generous. So we come now to the group that's paid second though they have been hired first and what happens verse 10, when those hired first came to get their pay.

They assumed that they would receive more than the ones you had been hard at five but they to pay today's wage God's grace is fair and generous, but when they receive their pay verse 11, they protested, what I comparison the 5 o'clock guys got the various areas is not fair. Look at the answer. A lot. The answer verse 13. He answered one that he is the landowner so you landowner says are interesting you bring that up with Brandon. I haven't been on fair didn't you agree to work all day for the usual way and is noted in areas and don't you have been in your hand. Didn't I tell you that it is take your money and go on. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you guess what.

Last time I checked on the landowner on the paymaster. I determine what you're going to make this my right is my land is my choice.

You will determine what I will pay.

I do because you don't own the land but by my grace I have paid you for these work and back verse 15 goes on. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money.

I love should you be jealous because I'm kind of others.

Great question. Great question.

When you compare your jelly become jealous and envious how Cumberland got a home at the beach and all we've got is his old job in the swamp area where we live come they could drive a new car every three years and I can't remember the last time we bought a new, her husband is never sick and my husband is very sick and he's a good man. You see, when I operate my life like that. I set myself up for one miserable existence was the fault in it. I II simply want God to be like a my great-grandfather was a good man and was always fair. As I saw fairness and he operated like this earth operate. God is God's nonoperating based on this earth and how we view things would you ever get that clear your mind.

You see, he's in charge of all the planets. Earth is just one of you are you are one of the family of God by the grace of God, as I am.

And he did not promise me when I married my wonderful wife soon to be 62 years ago that I would ever 62 years could've lost her when she was 30 or 40 or she could've lost me in that auto accident at that intersection. But you see when when you are not would you don't view your life as if you own it and you're ready to believe what life moves eastward toward pain and another's life westward toward gain. Regardless of how those differences are perceived. It's my acceptance of God's compass, not my feelings about fairness that determines the reward of receipt but I don't know where you are in this and I don't know where Monty would be. He's come a long way since the article done in these events transpired – close to him. I'd love to learn from him. What is learned through this how he scoped I was kept from being bitter is great Christian friends. I'm sure this horrific story about a senseless tragedy begs the question, how can God allow something so patently unfair to happen to this innocent family you're listening to Insight for living and there's much more we need to learn about the justice and fairness of God.

Please keep listening. To learn more about this ministry or are Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll.

Please visit us online@insightworld.org and then I want to draw your attention to a book Chuck selected for a listening family. Today's message contained a number of references to the justice of God the fairness of his actions and at today's cultural climate. These words are surfacing in our conversations as it relates to social justice and even the worldview. That's often called critical race theory.

When Chuck finished reading a new book called fault lines by fellow pastor Foti Baucom. He immediately wanted to share it with you.

Chuck said whether you're a layperson who is trying to engage in sensitive conversations on race or a pastor who is grappling with the polarized congregation you'll want to read fault lines you can purchase a copy right now by going to Insight.org/offer then in closing, I remind you that your generous donations are what empower Insight for living to deliver these daily Bible studies, when you give your actually making it possible for someone you may never meet in places you're likely never visit to have access to this life-giving Bible teacher. For instance, I just saw a note left from a gentleman who said greetings from Czech Republic. I am Albanian textbook on the grace awakening is a must read for this generation. Another note that said I am a young man that loves what God has done with my life. I am on the island of Anguilla listen to your program on radio and online.

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And now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll and the gracious hosts and experts assembled by Insight for living ministries.

Join us on an unforgettable 12 day tour March 6-17, 2022 at special sites along the way, I will teach from God's word will worship at the Mount of Beatitudes and share the Lord's table at the garden to impact will seal the sea of Galilee together and will visit places where Jesus walked and talked to learn more or call 1-888-447-0444. Just imagine walking along the sacred sites and seeing the Bible to come to life before your very mark your calendar for March 6-17, 2022 and make your reservation by calling 1-888-447-0444 or go to Insight.org/events Insight for living ministries tour to Israel is paid for and made possible by only those who choose to attend. Join us again when Chuck Swindoll continues his helpful message about the justice of God. Thursday on Insight for living. The preceding message. Let's let God be God was copyrighted in 2017 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles for swindling all rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited