Exploring parables

As I read the about the young rich man who asked Jesus what he needed to do to get into heaven it makes me look at myself and wonder if I am like this man who could not give up his riches to follow Jesus. After Jesus told the man to go and sell all he had and follow him, the young man went away sorrowful because he had many possessions. He could not give up all he owned to know God.

So I was talking with my daughter about this. She just got a new cell phone. I asked her if she would be able to give that cell phone to someone who didn't have a phone. We had just been talking about the rich young man and how it is important to give what we have. We thought we could do that. But when I asked her if she could give her cell phone to a lady in our ward who really doesn't have much. She hesitated and said she would rather buy her another phone, a cheap one. This is a hard one. It is something we must all continually work on and try harder to not become attached to our THINGS!

In Matthew 6:19-24 it explains that it is hard for a rich man to get into heaven because he has a hard time giving up the things of the world.

The Savior promises all of us that will make sacrifices to follow him that we will receive an hundred fold and shall inherit eternal life.

So what will help me put the Savior first in my life?
Most importantly will be to keep an eternal perspective and not a worldly one. I get easily distracted when my focus is on worldly things. Starting my day with prayers and scripture study show I am putting the Lord first. When I make time for Family Home Evening, temple service, my visiting teaching and attending church on Sunday and partaking of the sacrament are a few of the ways I can put the Lord first. I can do my best in my callings and make sure to put my family first and show my greatest love and kindness to them. When I get my priorities straight and make time for the Lord first--I know that the other things that are less important will drop out of my life. As these lesser things drop out of my life it will make it even easier to serve the Lord.

There is the parable in Matthew 20:1-16 that talks about those who serve the Lord and what their rewards are:
There are those that are hired in the morning, those the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 11th hour. The first group in the morning agree to get paid a penny a day. The other groups agree to get paid what is right. The morning group works 12 hours, the 3rd hour group works 9 hours, the 6th hour group works 6 hours, the 9th hour group works 3 hours and the 11th hour group only works one hour. When it comes time to pay them for their labors each group of laborers gets paid exactly the same amount, one penny.

So what do we learn from this parable about serving in the Lord's kingdom?
I learn that the Lord promises each of us all he has if we will serve and follow him. It does not matter when we come to him.

What message of comfort can this parable have for converts to the church?
It brings comfort knowing that they didn't miss out on any blessings of the Lord just because they didn't know about the gospel sooner.

What would I tell someone who feels it is unfair for each of the laborers to be paid equally?
I would explain that none of us can earn the reward on our own efforts, if the reward is eternal life. We all depend on the Lord for the reward. The Lord loves all of us equally and wants us to each be blessed according to that love he has or us. He keeps his arms open continually ready to take us in as we are willing and ready. Each of the laborers agreed to what they would receive, so how is that unfair? I will rejoice if those I have loved are able to receive all the Father has, even after years of going astray. I am grateful for this wonderful promise, what hope it gives to all of us.