What is it about human nature that it always wants more? Children have all their basic needs provided by their parents and they want more. All it takes is to see someone’s new toy, new shoes, new bike, new friend, and a sudden desire wells up in the human heart. When people grow a little older, there is a drive for a bigger house, a newer car, or a better phone. No matter how much we currently have, it doesn’t take much to want something bigger or better or newer.
Satisfaction and contentment are rare and often fleeting.
Have you ever felt like the people whom the landowner hired first? They very probably considered themselves fortunate to have been hired so quickly. They were offered a fair wage for honest work that they could handle. Then more people starting to come throughout the day to help. At the end of the day, they probably felt pretty satisfied.
Ironically, it was the owner’s generosity that started to change their contentment into greed. They saw people who worked less receive more and envy started to grow within their hearts. What they had once considered fair no longer satisfied them. They wanted more.
We rightly recognize that they were wrong, but we know too well the pull of envy and what it feels like to accuse God of being unfair.
How is it that the grace that God showered on us and the miraculous world that he provides can start to feel like it’s not enough? How can we even begin to believe that God owes us more? He sacrificed everything to rescue us from sin and death. He provides a beautiful, finely crafted world for our home. He surrounds us with his love, answers our prayers, guides, comforts, and strengthens us with his word—and we want more.
Isn’t it amazing how often the people who richest in earthly blessings tend to appreciate God the least? And the people who have the least of God’s earthly gifts tend to appreciate him most?
“Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
Which ones are we?
God bless,
Here’s this past Sunday’s service: https://youtu.be/yVF6jlHi3Mg
Or you can watch it from our website: https://trinitymarinette.com/sermon-archive/the-church-forgives/
Or you can watch is on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TrinityEvLutheranChurchWisSynod/
Come to worship! You can sign up here: https://trinitymarinette.com/events/communion-worship-services/ or call Pastor or call the church office to let us know which service you prefer.
Here is this week’s bulletin:
2020-09-27 The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
2020-09-27 Announcements The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
We need you
Thank you to everyone who has taken time to participate in the surveys about Trunk or Treat and Christmas for kids. We are monitoring what the City of Marinette is going to do for tricking or treating to decide on a day or time, (Any ideas are welcomed and encouraged). If you answered yes to any of the questions please resubmit your survey with your email address so we can contact you in regards to your responses.
Please take these 3 short surveys:
We’re Starting Bible Classes this Sunday, we will hold a half hour Bible class downstairs in church after each of our services. You are welcome and encouraged to attend. We will observe whatever the current mandates are and we are going to ask you to clean surfaces at the end of class.
Politics is driving me crazy! This election season is as chaotic as any that we can remember. Talk and drama about the upcoming presidential election are hot. Social media tensions are rising, loved ones are dividing along party lines, and candidates are slinging mud at their opponents. In response, frustrated Christians often wonder what’s happening to America and where God is in the confusion. We’re going to find a calm, biblical approach to politics. We’ll look at how God has set up the government as his instrument of order and how we’re supposed to relate to it. We’ll look at the two kingdoms, the separation between church and state, and our messy political world. It’s going to be great! We’ll meet in the church basement after both Sunday morning service.
We depend on your support to do the Lord’s work. If you would like to support the Lord’s work at Trinity, you may contribute at trinitymarinette.com/giving/ or you can mail it to
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
1501 Thomas St.
Marinette, WI 54143