Matthew 19:16-30

1.       What indications can you find that suggest why the young man decided not to follow the Savior? How does Matthew 6:19-24 help explain his choice? What blessings did the Savior promise to those who make sacrifices to follow him?

The young man felt that he had been faithful and true.  He had kept the commandments for the duration of his life and wanted to know what more he needed to do.  The lord asked him to give up his possessions by selling them and giving the money to the poor.  This young man had many worldly treasures and he didn’t want to let them go in order to follow the Savior. The scriptures say that the boy was sorrowful, and he had obviously been tested where it meant the most.  His weakness was not in trying to keep the commandments; his weakness lied in being too attached to monetary things, and coveting what he had. The Lord makes the statement that it will be difficult for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God. The Savior promised that those that are willing to sacrifice their worldly goods in order to follow him will be given “an hundredfold” and will “inherit everlasting life.”

Based on the Savior’s response to Peter, write a paragraph that could help you put the Lord first in your life.

I think what holds me back from putting the Lord and his work more front and center in my life is time.  I have a hard time giving up my time because I feel like it’s so limited.  I stay very busy with school, home life, kids, calling, and work. By the end of the day I’m tired and when I do have free time I usually want to spend it how I would like to spend it.  That “I” is what can get a person in trouble.  It is when we start thinking about ourselves more than the Lord.  My time is the Lord’s time. He has afforded me this time on the Earth as well as my daily breath.  I should be sure that I’m using the time that he has given me to fulfill his purposes.  Not only is this what the Lord asks, but he also asks it of us because he knows that sacrificing on his behalf is what will bring us the most spiritual growth as well as joy in our life.  I know that I can dedicate more of my time to the Lord’s work and purposes and when I do, I will gain a stronger testimony of knowing that sacrificing can bring a deeper happiness.

2.       Review the parable in Matthew 20: 1-16 and consider what rewards come to those who serve in the Lord’s kingdom. Complete the chart below, filling in the blanks with information you find in Matthew 20

The Hours the laborers were hired: 1 group are the ones that were hired for the day. 2^nd group 6^th hour. 3^rd group 9^th hour. And 4^th group the 11^th hour

How much the man agreed to pay: He agreed to pay one penny for the day

Hours worked: First group all day, the other groups only a portion of the day

How much they were actually paid: They were each paid a penny regardless of the hours they worked.

3.       What do we learn from this parable about serving in the Lord’s kingdom? I take from this parable that we are each on our own levels.  It doesn’t matter if a person joins the church later in life.  He will still have the same opportunity to enter into the kingdom of God. I also think that it shows that no matter what capacity that we serve in the church, it is counted the same. I am able to see this first hand.  Being the primary president, we wouldn’t be able to efficiently run primary without all of the teachers, nursery workers, scouts and achievement day leaders, music people ect.  My job just because I’m the president, is not any more important than the nursery leader.  I would tell someone that felt that it was unfair for each of the laborers to be paid equally that there is a good chance that at one time or another they have fallen behind but that the Lord will be merciful on them. I would also tell them to think about how they would feel if the missed out on an opportunity to serve but were later offered to serve but for a shorter amount of time.  They too would want the same opportunities afforded to the others. Elder Holland gave an amazing talk on this very subject.  He said “Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.” I know that it is not our place to judge or become envious of another because of what they have been given. Elder Holland gives three lessons that we can learn from this parable:

Lesson 1: “So lesson number one from the Lord’s vineyard: coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live.”

Lesson 2” Don’t dwell on old issues or grievances—not toward yourself nor your neighbor nor even, I might add, toward this true and living Church. The majesty of your life, of your neighbor’s life, and of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be made manifest at the last day, even if such majesty is not always recognized by everyone in the early going. So don’t hyperventilate about something that happened at 9:00 in the morning when the grace of God is trying to reward you at 6:00 in the evening—whatever your labor arrangements have been through the day.”

Lesson 3 “This parable—like all parables—is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God’s goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.”