The Kingdom of Heaven is Like…
There is a parable of the workers in the vineyard that speaks to the Kingdom of Heaven being like a landowner who hires servants to work his land. At the end of the day he pays the servants the same amount of money whether they worked for one hour or all day long in the heat through the heat of the day. Those who worked all day are envious they received the same pay as those who worked less. The parable says “are you envious of my generosity?” Implying that envy kicks one out of the Kingdom.
A friend of mine suggested decades ago that I re-write the Bible for women to relate to and in a current context. I found the thought compelling, but knew it wasn’t mine to do. This past Sunday I spoke on the above parable and decided I would modernize it and rewrite it for the current audience I spoke in front of. Here’s my take on Matthew 20: 1-16:
The kingdom of Heaven is like a Phoenix, Arizona woman who has a surprise birthday party thrown for her where a guest gives her the fit of a lottery ticket. She redeems the ticket to discover she has won $100 million. After paying her taxes, her debt, and creates an investment account for her future, she creates an endowment for all of things she felt worthwhile including the arts, her college, and her church.
With the remaining money she gives $1 million to each of her children who are thrilled to receive it. Then she gives $1 million to each of her step children. Her birth children begin to grumble about their status deserving more. Then she gave $1 million to her best friend, who was over the moon until she learned that her neighbor of one year also received $1 million and the neighbor didn’t attend her best friend’s wedding, hold her hand during cancer, grieve with her when her husband passed. Then she gave $1 million to an unhoused man standing at the intersection on Camelback Rd and I-17. Then all of the recipients were in an uproar feeling entitled to the money they didn’t win and envious of the others who received. The lottery win asks, “why are you envious of my generosity.” Can’t you see. In the Kingdom of Heaven there is enough for everyone and all are deserving.
My favorite take away from this parable is the realization that:
- The kingdom of Heaven isn’t a place, but a space. It is an energy in Consciousness. It is a way of seeing the world.
- Everyone lives in the Kingdom whether they are aware of it, or not.
- In the Kingdom, there is more than enough to go around. Nothing is withheld.
- Comparison kicks you out of the Consciousness of the Kingdom immediately.
- Envy is a poison that damages the Soul. Jealousy is “I want what you have.” Envy is “I don’t want you to have what you have.”