The Ingratitude of Man
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.”
Luke 20:9–11
Ever since the Fall, mankind has been refusing to accept the gracious provision God has made for salvation through grace. In this story, which Jesus told to highlight the stubborn refusal of the Pharisees to acknowledge the truth of who He was, the focus at the beginning is on the man who planted the vineyard in the first place—a picture of God. We did not create this world we live in and all the natural beauty and resources that make our lives possible, yet all too often we taken them for granted, offering God no thanks or praise for all that He has done.
Our pride does not like to acknowledge that everything we have and are is the result of God’s grace rather than our own effort. We are often not thankful because we do not want to acknowledge that someone else is responsible. Yet ingratitude is the doorway that leads to downfall and destruction. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). The jobs, houses, cars, and clothes that we enjoy are not the product of us creating a vineyard, but of God trusting us to work in His vineyard. We owe Him our gratitude for all that He has provided, and we should use these blessings to honor Him.
Luke 20:9–11
Ever since the Fall, mankind has been refusing to accept the gracious provision God has made for salvation through grace. In this story, which Jesus told to highlight the stubborn refusal of the Pharisees to acknowledge the truth of who He was, the focus at the beginning is on the man who planted the vineyard in the first place—a picture of God. We did not create this world we live in and all the natural beauty and resources that make our lives possible, yet all too often we taken them for granted, offering God no thanks or praise for all that He has done.
Our pride does not like to acknowledge that everything we have and are is the result of God’s grace rather than our own effort. We are often not thankful because we do not want to acknowledge that someone else is responsible. Yet ingratitude is the doorway that leads to downfall and destruction. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). The jobs, houses, cars, and clothes that we enjoy are not the product of us creating a vineyard, but of God trusting us to work in His vineyard. We owe Him our gratitude for all that He has provided, and we should use these blessings to honor Him.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Not a day should pass without our hearts overflowing with thanks and praise to God for His blessings.
Empowered to testify
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