Last week I was trying to stuff a camel through a needle’s eye – but it didn’t work.
Do you think maybe I could get my treats to go through?
I mean, heaven wouldn’t be heaven without treats.
Okay, I’ll listen to the story.
But I hope there’s treats in it.
***
Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.”
***
How many treats does a denarius buy?
I am listening.
***
“About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.”
***
Maybe he was going to pay them in treats.
***
“He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’”
***
I bet if someone offered them treats they’d work for them.
How much listening do I have to do? Give me a treat first.
***
“’Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’”
***
That man must have had a lot of treats to pay with.
What do you mean, vineyards have grapes and dogs aren’t supposed to eat them?
No fair!
***
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’”
***
I think I’ll wait and hang out with those first workers – after they get paid, that is.
***
“The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When the received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’”
***
I bet those grumbly guys won’t even buy me any treats. I think I’ll go hang out with an eleventh hour guy.
***
“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am so generous?’”
***
Now I know who I’m going to hang out with. I think I like that landowner.
***
Then Jesus said, “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
***
Okay, I’m getting in line last – I mean first.
I mean – I don’t know what I mean. I’m all confused.
Which way are the treats?
bongodogblog 
Roberta
January 26, 2014 at 5:24 pm
Bongo, you will get treats, but the workers aka “sinner” who come last to Salvation receive the peace, love, and forgiveness as those who came when first called. What a powerful story.
Bongo
January 26, 2014 at 10:21 pm
Roberta, I get it now. If I come to Salvation first I get peace, love, and forgiveness for a longer time. I guess that’s kind of like getting extra treats. Woo woo!
Sun
January 26, 2014 at 7:48 pm
now Bongo, you know what happens when you eat too MANY treats, right? your belly will start to drag on the ground and that would be awfully hard going on your adventures. 😛 happy week to you!!
Bongo
January 26, 2014 at 10:22 pm
Sun, if I go on lots of adventures I burn off all those extra treats – and then I need more.
Hawk aka BrownDog
January 27, 2014 at 7:01 am
Hi Y’all!
Oh dear, Humans are always taking the fun out of things.
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Bongo
January 27, 2014 at 10:47 am
Hawk, you think they’d figure it out. All they have to do is pile on the treats and everything’s more fun.
Long Life Cats and Dogs
January 27, 2014 at 7:13 am
Imagine the strikes and protests that would happen today if those working only an hour received the same as those who worked a full day. Gosh, it’d be chaos
Bongo
January 27, 2014 at 10:49 am
Susan, that could be really confusing because if those working all day went on strike then they wouldn’t be working at all and the ones who had only worked an hour would now have lots of work to do.
Long Life Cats and Dogs
January 27, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Welcome to Africa! Those who have jobs, don’t do them because they’re on strike. Those that don’t, steal from those who do. The rest of us try to catch up on everyone else’s work.
Oh, alright then, maybe it’s not quite that bad but they are rather fond of striking and no work is done during these rather too common times.
FleaByte
January 27, 2014 at 9:32 am
Bongo, you just come on over to my blog for treats. We have the best treats.
Bongo
January 27, 2014 at 10:51 am
FleaByte, that sounds yummy! I’m on my way.
eripanwkevin
January 27, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Hmmm…..’The last will be first, and the first will be last.” ….hmmm…sounds a little complicated….I wish that I would be the first to get a treat…..Ooops!
Bongo
January 28, 2014 at 12:19 pm
Kevin, I think if we got in line first for a treat then we could go to the end of the line and get another treat last. That way we’re first and last.
angelswhisper2011
January 31, 2014 at 2:38 pm
I’m last in line, Bongo…maybe I have to turn around to be first… I have to think this over. Pawkiss 🙂
Bongo
January 31, 2014 at 4:11 pm
Little Binky, it’s so confusing. Maybe we should just turn in circles.