A few nights ago Evelyn and I had a lengthy discussion about trials and sacrifice. We had just read this saying by Jesus to his disciples:
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (Matt 10:29-30).
Then we read the story of the widow's mite:
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. (Mark 12:41-44).
We then jumped to the parable of the great supper, which included this statement of the Master:
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)
We talked for a while about the great trials and sacrifices of the ancient prophets, the early-day saints in Jerusalem, and the Latter-day Saint pioneers. These people were called upon to truly give their all. They sacrificed their homes, livelihoods, families, wealth, health, and their very lives to answer the call to faith, to come unto the Savior, and to accept the Gospel. These were magnificent, inspiring men and women who exemplified faithfulness, integrity, and courage. They kept their covenants of sacrifice and consecration so they could have a place in the Kingdom of God.
Many make tremendous sacrifices today, as well. Bishops and stake presidents give untold hours of volunteer service during their tenure while they work hard to make a living and care for their families. We recently heard a Palestinian woman from Israel who spoke of risking her life week after week for twelve years to sneak into Jerusalem to attend a little branch of the LDS Church. Church members in developing countries have to walk many miles on hot and dusty roads to fulfill home teaching and visiting teaching assignments. Closer to home, many LDS members outside of Utah have to hold several callings and shoulder great responsibilities to keep their wards and branches functioning. Christians of various denominations in non-Christian countries often suffer terrible persecutions because of their beliefs.
As I pondered the commandment to sacrifice all we have for Christ's sake, and as I thought about those who have given so much to follow Him, I felt a little cheated that so many are called upon to sacrifice far more than I have to sacrifice. I felt guilty, too, that so many have suffered tremendously for their faith, while my life is relatively comfortable and trouble free and has been for a long time.
The Savior said that we must be willing to give up everything, even our lives, to be his disciples. I am asked to give up relatively little in my comfortable and insulated life in Kaysville. Would I accept a martyr's death for the name of Christ? I don't know because I doubt I will be asked to make that choice. Will I leave my family sick and destitute to go serve a mission without purse or scrip for two years in a foreign land? I'll never know because that call will not come to me. Could I pull a handicraft across the plains? Such an adventure does not appear to be in my future.
I don't know anyone who has been asked to leave their homes and travel for years in a trackless desert and live in a tent like Lehi and his family. I know of no one who has been asked to offer his only son as a blood sacrifice on an altar as did Abraham. In my little ward in Kaysville we can afford to have two gospel doctrine teachers and three high priest group instructors because we have an abundance of active members of the Church who are willing to serve. I can walk to my church building in five minutes, although we usually drive for thirty seconds if it is raining or snowing. The nearest LDS temple is twenty minutes away. I do not have to sell all I have and quit my job to make a thousand-mile trip to receive a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the temple.
If impossible sacrifices are the requirements for a place in the kingdom of God, do I have any hope in my ordinary life? Am I missing out on opportunities for blessings because my life is so easy?
I was still thinking about this topic a couple of days later when a scripture came to mind. It is the parable of the laborers, which is found in Matthew 20:1-16:
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire alabourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 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. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 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. 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. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 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. 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. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
As I pondered on the parable in this scripture passage, I was filled with hope. I am one of those who stand all the day idle in the marketplace. I am willing, and I think I am able, but I am not called. I am not going to be an Abraham, an Enoch, a Peter, an Abinadi, a John the Baptist, a William Tynsdale, a Mother Theresa, a Joseph Smith, a Hyrum Smith, a Spencer W. Kimball, a Neil A. Maxwell, or a Thomas S. Monson. I will not be a bishop, a stake president, a General Authority, a missionary in Africa, or a soldier on a battlefield. It is likely that I will finish out my ordinary and uneventful life and pass quietly into the night when my time is up.
And yet, if I am faithful and true to the few things God asks me to do, I will receive my penny - the very same penny that the martyrs, prophets, and saints of old receive. God is no respecter of persons, and He will not punish me for having been born in a time and place of prosperity and peace any more than He will punish the wretched soul who was born in the dark ages or in the Amazon jungle where he had no hope of hearing the Gospel.
I conclude that I need to trust God more. He has a plan for me, and that plan is for my salvation and exaltation. He will ensure that I have every trial and sacrifice necessary to take me to that goal. I should not worry about not having enough hard times and wilderness experiences. Perhaps I don't need a handcart challenge to bring me to the Savior. God will give me what I need, and I am content with that knowledge.
God loves me so much that he is willing to pay me the same penny as the martyrs and the pioneers and the apostles and prophets. It is totally unfair for me to receive the same crown as Abraham, Noah, Paul, Nephi, Alma, Moroni, Joseph Smith, Jeffrey R. Holland, Thomas S. Monson. Yet that is exactly what God promises. Even those of us who live ordinary lives, perform no heroic deeds, and suffer no destructive deprivation for the Gospel's sake have the promise of eternal life as joint heirs with Christ (see Romans 8:17).
God loves me that much! He surely loves everyone with a love that passes understanding. I certainly do not understand it, but I am profoundly grateful for that love. "Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me... Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!" (see "I Stand All Amazed", 93, Hymns).
