Sermon Exodus 16:2-15 and Matthew 20:1-16 Providing for our Needs

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
Sermon Exodus 16:2-15 and Matthew 20:1-16 Providing for our Needs
September 21, 2008

As the Israelites wandered through the desert that were tired and hungry and began to wonder if they had made the correct decision to leave Egypt. It was at this time that God decided to teach them an important lesson about what to do when you do not have enough. We all have experienced times when we don’t seem up to the challenges before us or we don’t have the resources to do what we need to do. At times like these, what should we do? This is what we will be exploring today. But first please pray with me.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for your gracious love for us. Protect us and keep us in your loving care. Watch over us and care for our needs. And satisfy our hunger for you. We pray this in your strong name. Amen.

Matthew 20:1-16 1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' 7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' 9 When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

The Israelites had been given their freedom from slavery in Egypt and in the bargain they received hunger. So they complained to Moses saying that they would gladly give up their freedom to satisfy their hunger. And as we feel the pangs of hunger we are all too ready to give up our freedom, the freedom God has given us.

For many years I experienced great hunger in my life. I hungered for more money and worked very hard for my business to succeed. I hungered for relationships and did everything could I think of to make friends. I tried to satisfy my hunger with peanut butter sandwiches until my weight started to rise. But once I became involved in a church many of my hungers went away. As I attended Bible studies, worship and retreats I found greater satisfaction in my life. Then as I began to teach in the church I found that my hunger was satisfied. That’s how I first knew of my calling to be a pastor.

The great hunger that many of you have brought into the church today, your desire for a job, your prayers for a loved one who is sick, your hope that your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will succeed are all good things to want and hope for. That is why we pray for them every Sunday in worship and during the week at Early Morning Prayers. Our act of praying is our way of freely putting ourselves into the hands of God. We do this because we know that trusting God is the only way we have to protect our freedom.

Sadly many people satisfy their hunger by giving up their freedom too easily. They stay in a consuming job because they think their hunger is for success. They remain in a consuming relationship because they think that their hunger is loneliness. And they acquire a mountain of debt because that think the next purchase will satisfy their hunger. But jobs, relationships and success cannot save us. They have no power to satisfy our hunger. So we turn in despair to eating more, getting drunk, or staying busy. And as we consume more and more food, alcohol or work these things begin to consume us and we become enslaved, losing our freedom.

When the Hebrews experienced hunger they were tempted to return to slavery. Their only option to preserve their freedom was to trust God completely, that she would provide for their needs as they continued on their journey. Every morning God blessed them with a shower of bread for them to eat. Each person had to gather her own for the day. It could not be stored so it had to be gathered every day. No one got full. Everyone was satisfied. And the Hebrews remained free. This is how God’s grace works; it comes daily to individuals to nourish them all the way to freedom in the Promised Land.

What God provided in the wilderness was spiritual food. We know this because of the name, manna. “Manna” is the Hebrew word meaning, “what is it?” Just image a kid eating it every morning and asking his mother, “what is it?” and she would say “yes”. When we get hungry we pray “What is it Lord, that I am to do with this hunger.”? This is the question we ask until it is answered by Jesus Christ who told us in the Gospel of John that he is the bread of life. So our real question is not “What must I consume to be free of hunger? Rather we now ask “What is Jesus Christ doing about my hunger.

Jesus answered the question “What is it?” with a story about workers in vineyard. The workers thought that their hunger could be satisfied by money. Some thought they needed to get up real early to earn enough to satisfy their hunger. Others thought that they needed to work long hours. They all thought that though their own efforts they could satisfy their hunger themselves. But they were all surprised when it was discovered that the “What is it?” had nothing to do with how long they worked or how hard they worked. Rather “What is it?” was a gift from God to each of them and was just sufficient enough to satisfy their hunger.

The lesson in this is that if you depend on money or power to satisfy your hunger you will be disappointed. The hunger you experience can only be satisfied by God who provides you with a sufficient amount of his grace every day.

And this brings us to our teachers. Why do you think people would volunteer to teach in a church? Do you think it is about the large wages we pay? Think again. None of our teachers are here because of money. Something else motivates them. It must be that something about teaching satisfies a deep hunger. They have learned to trust God each day and that God will provide for them exactly what they need.

I have observed that our teachers teach because of their great love for their students. Why would Rosie spend her Tuesday evenings here if it were not for the love of the international students who are learning English? Why would Vern come here mornings and afternoon if were not for his love of helping new immigrants to pronounce words correctly? Why would June come here every Wednesday were it not for the great love she has for the women of the church. Why would seminarians Sterrett and Erwin volunteer their valuable time were it not for their great love of college students and children? Why would Cora and Cecelia come back to the church after their music responsibilities were complete to work with children on Sunday evenings were it not for their great love of this church and our evangelism effort. Our teachers sacrifice their time and talent because by doing so their deepest hunger is satisfied by God.

So “What is it” that God uses to satisfy our hunger. The hunger we feel is not in our stomachs or in our wallets. Our hunger is buried deep in our hearts. And therefore it can only be satisfied by the great love of God which fills our hearts and satisfies our needs. And if you really believe that you are loved by God then you become free to use your life not in consuming things but in responding to God’s love by loving others. This is why our teachers teach. They love God so much because their hunger has been satisfied and they just have to share this good news with their students. So whatever hunger you are experiencing today take it Jesus Christ in prayer, because Jesus is your savior and will not let you go hungry.

Lord Jesus Christ, just as you taught your disciples while on this earth so do we teach your disciples today. Bless our teachers as they bring your love to children and adults here in this very special place, Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church. And we ask for you to satisfy our hunger not just with the chili dogs waiting outside, but with the spiritual food that only you provide. We thank you and praise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.