Be a Berean

[JohnB]

"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. " Acts 17:11

Don't believe everything you hear in church even from any Pastor. I have seen many times Christians twist scripture. I had a friend who said the parable of the landowner going out at different parts of the day and hiring workers. He paid each one the same wage, no matter when the started. My friend, who owned a business, said the parable means whatever wage you agree to when hired, that's all the wage you get. There are no pay raises, no bonuses. If you start off at $15 an hour and work there for 20 years, your pay stays the same.

I've had Christian friends believe a new teaching, just because the person sounded so good.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. " II Timothy
4:3-4

This applies to Christians too.

Years ago when I was going through a bad time, the elders of the church told me. "John, put these desires on the altar of your heart and offering them up as a sacrifice to the LORD" I told them, "You stop eating for two weeks and when those hunger pains hit, put them on the altar of your heart and offer them up as a sacrifice to the LORD" sometimes Christians give "feel good" answers that don't help.
Sometimes you will go through things and there are no answers. Sometimes the best answer is....."I don't know why"

 

[Godsgirl1983]

You stop eating for two weeks and when those hunger pains hit, put them on the altar of your heart and offer them up as a sacrifice to the LORD"

people do this (for various lengths of time) ...
it's called fasting, and is very humbling.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

"Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. " Acts 17:11

Don't believe everything you hear in church even from any Pastor. I have seen many times Christians twist scripture. I had a friend who said the parable of the landowner going out at different parts of the day and hiring workers. He paid each one the same wage, no matter when the started. My friend, who owned a business, said the parable means whatever wage you agree to when hired, that's all the wage you get. There are no pay raises, no bonuses. If you start off at $15 an hour and work there for 20 years, your pay stays the same.

I've had Christian friends believe a new teaching, just because the person sounded so good.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. " II Timothy
4:3-4

This applies to Christians too.

Years ago when I was going through a bad time, the elders of the church told me. "John, put these desires on the altar of your heart and offering them up as a sacrifice to the LORD" I told them, "You stop eating for two weeks and when those hunger pains hit, put them on the altar of your heart and offer them up as a sacrifice to the LORD" sometimes Christians give "feel good" answers that don't help.
Sometimes you will go through things and there are no answers. Sometimes the best answer is....."I don't know why"

“I had a friend who said the parable of the landowner going out at different parts of the day and hiring workers. He paid each one the same wage, no matter when the started. My friend, who owned a business, said the parable means whatever wage you agree to when hired, that's all the wage you get. There are no pay raises, no bonuses. If you start off at $15 an hour and work there for 20 years, your pay stays the same.”

your friend seems astute in the parable the workers hired ewrliest in the day had worked longer hours and they expected themselves to get more pay . When it came time to get paid they received what they had agreed to and no more it’s one of the points of that parable we should t think because we’ve been a Christian 50 years we have some special wage coming more than the one converted yesterday the same treasure is given to anyone that accepts the lord and doesn’t turn back if they met him yesterday or fifty years ago we’re only going to receive what he promised no more no less

The ones that began work early only imagined in thier mind that they were owed more than he agreed to . They became upset because those workers hired later in the day received the same wage as them

they are looking at it from only thier own interest and not the others

 

[JohnB]

“I had a friend who said the parable of the landowner going out at different parts of the day and hiring workers. He paid each one the same wage, no matter when the started. My friend, who owned a business, said the parable means whatever wage you agree to when hired, that's all the wage you get. There are no pay raises, no bonuses. If you start off at $15 an hour and work there for 20 years, your pay stays the same.”

your friend seems astute in the parable the workers hired ewrliest in the day had worked longer hours and they expected themselves to get more pay . When it came time to get paid they received what they had agreed to and no more it’s one of the points of that parable we should t think because we’ve been a Christian 50 years we have some special wage coming more than the one converted yesterday the same treasure is given to anyone that accepts the lord and doesn’t turn back if they met him yesterday or fifty years ago we’re only going to receive what he promised no more no less

The ones that began work early only imagined in thier mind that they were owed more than he agreed to . They became upset because those workers hired later in the day received the same wage as them

they are looking at it from only thier own interest and not the others

His point was he didn't want to pay his workers anymore than what they agreed to, no matter how long they worked for him. That was not the point of the parable. He was using the parable for his own greed.

 

[JohnB]

people do this (for various lengths of time) ...
it's called fasting, and is very humbling.

This had nothing to do with fasting. My point was the advice of the elders has no meaning, it was useless.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Being a Berean doesn't mean automatically rejecting whatever a preacher says. It means searching the scriptures to find out for yourself if it's true or not. No doubt when the Bereans searched the scriptures they learned that yes, what Paul said was true. And just because someone searches the scriptures doesn't mean they will end up any closer to the truth. I've known a lot of "Bereans" who were about as far out in left field as it gets.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

His point was he didn't want to pay his workers anymore than what they agreed to, no matter how long they worked for him. That was not the point of the parable. He was using the parable for his own greed.

his point about what Jesus said is accurate according to your post is all I’m saying whether he’s motivated by greed isnt my place I’ve never met the guy

your saying he has workers and when someone wants a raise after a year or something , he tells them it’s not biblical to give a raise ? Wow that’s pretty hard core twisting I’d say and I see your point now

I was just responding to what you wrote and didn’t realize the part you explained I was just referring to this

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ( early church disciples )

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. ( those who came a little later ) And they went their way.

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. ( the later generations )

And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. ( the last generations of believers )

So when even was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. ( the judgement )

And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. ( they worked very short hours and received a full days pay per the other agreements )


But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. ( exactly what was agreed to but they started looking at other people and their wages and thought were now owed more because of thier wage )

And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. ( this is thier mind )


But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. ( who was first ) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? ( your angry with me because I’m gracious to the other workers and pay them the same ?)

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:1-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We need to remember not a single one of us can give or take salvation from anyone it belongs to the one who overcame death and possesses eternal life and it’s his to give to those he chooses to give it to

whether they are mature long lived and proven Christian’s battle tested having given up the world to follow the lord , or whether they truly believe and still yet struggle against the world in Jesus name depending on his bloodshed and yet pressing towards him in repentance

Or just a babe who hears the story of God sending his son to save all those who believes In him

each of us belong to Jesus and we are his to judge and redeem and be gracious to and save independent of any other “ “more mature Christian’s “judgement is the idea we should be glad when someone acknowledges the good news and name of Jesus and we should advocate and begin to pull for them and pray and hope for them instead often times we seem like those workers upset because the others are getting the same reward but we have done more in our own mind so we’re going to have some special place and reward over them we imagine

at his parable is just about the kingdom of God and the rewards of eternal life ot has nothing to do with not giving raises so I think I understand what you mean better thanks for the patience

 

[JohnB]

his point about what Jesus said is accurate according to your post is all I’m saying whether he’s motivated by greed isnt my place I’ve never met the guy

your saying he has workers and when someone wants a raise after a year or something , he tells them it’s not biblical to give a raise ? Wow that’s pretty hard core twisting I’d say and I see your point now

I was just responding to what you wrote and didn’t realize the part you explained I was just referring to this

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ( early church disciples )

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. ( those who came a little later ) And they went their way.

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. ( the later generations )

And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. ( the last generations of believers )

So when even was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. ( the judgement )

And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. ( they worked very short hours and received a full days pay per the other agreements )


But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. ( exactly what was agreed to but they started looking at other people and their wages and thought were now owed more because of thier wage )

And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. ( this is thier mind )


But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. ( who was first ) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? ( your angry with me because I’m gracious to the other workers and pay them the same ?)

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:1-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We need to remember not a single one of us can give or take salvation from anyone it belongs to the one who overcame death and possesses eternal life and it’s his to give to those he chooses to give it to

whether they are mature long lived and proven Christian’s battle tested having given up the world to follow the lord , or whether they truly believe and still yet struggle against the world in Jesus name depending on his bloodshed and yet pressing towards him in repentance

Or just a babe who hears the story of God sending his son to save all those who believes In him

each of us belong to Jesus and we are his to judge and redeem and be gracious to and save independent of any other “ “more mature Christian’s “judgement is the idea we should be glad when someone acknowledges the good news and name of Jesus and we should advocate and begin to pull for them and pray and hope for them instead often times we seem like those workers upset because the others are getting the same reward but we have done more in our own mind so we’re going to have some special place and reward over them we imagine

at his parable is just about the kingdom of God and the rewards of eternal life ot has nothing to do with not giving raises so I think I understand what you mean better thanks for the patience

It shocked me when other Christian businessmen supported his view. I should have asked them, according to the story the workers were only paid a penny a day. Should your workers also get paid only a penny a day?

 

[JohnDB]

His point was he didn't want to pay his workers anymore than what they agreed to, no matter how long they worked for him. That was not the point of the parable. He was using the parable for his own greed.

It was more literally about the upcoming inclusion of the gentiles into the family of God than anything else.

The Jews expected a larger reward for being consistent believers....which is not true at all.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Don't believe everything you hear in church even from any Pastor.

A better way to put this is "Examine all things in the light of Scripture". As the Bible says "Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good". But in order to do so honestly you had better know what the Bible teaches, and what are the fundamental doctrines of "the faith". This takes hard work, as well as spiritual discernment. Too many Christians want "text book" answers and do not wish to make the effort to connect the dots.

 

[Nehemiah6]

I had a friend who said the parable of the landowner going out at different parts of the day and hiring workers. He paid each one the same wage, no matter when the started. My friend, who owned a business, said the parable means whatever wage you agree to when hired, that's all the wage you get.

Your friend was an idiot. Probably did not last too long in business.

 

[Godsgirl1983]

This had nothing to do with fasting. My point was the advice of the elders has no meaning, it was useless.

I know what your point was, but your reply tells me that you missed mine.
Go back, reread what we both said, think about it and if you get my point then great- we can further discuss....
if you don't get my point then say so (there is nothing wrong with saying you don't understand something someone has shared)- we can then further discuss...
or option 3: you have no interest in my point and move on...

 

[tourist]

Your friend was an idiot. Probably did not last too long in business.

I don't think that landowner is going to get any takers the next morning when he tries to recruit help.

 

[Aaron56]

We often forget that the Bereans first “..received the message with eagerness…”. This speaks to the condition of their heart.

 

[JohnB]

Your friend was an idiot. Probably did not last too long in business.

Sadly he was a member of the church board. He was finally removed after the pastor passed away and the pastor's son in law took over.