Because He

Enjoy this message from Pastor Tyler Schoenberger called "Because He" on Sunday, February 16, 2026 at Reach Church in Bear, Delaware!

The struggle with discontentment often stems from a deep-seated belief that our faithful service and good works should earn us better circumstances, more recognition, or greater blessings from God. This "what will I get?" mentality, exemplified by Peter's question to Jesus after the rich young ruler walked away, reveals a dangerous assumption that we're entitled to something more because of our efforts and sacrifices.

Jesus addresses this thinking through the parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew 20, where laborers who worked different hours all received the same wage. While this seems unfair by human standards, it illustrates a profound truth about God's grace. The vineyard owner's response - questioning whether he can be generous with what belongs to him - reveals that God's blessings aren't earned wages but gracious gifts. The denarius each worker received represented everything they needed to survive and thrive, just as believers have already been given all things in Christ.

Scripture consistently teaches that Christians already possess complete forgiveness, perfect righteousness, God's wisdom, a new heart, the Spirit's power, adoption as God's children, and unbreakable union with Jesus. When we truly grasp this reality, we can shift from "because I" thinking to "because He" living. This transformation brings the peace Paul describes in Philippians 4 - contentment in every circumstance because we know we already possess everything we need in Christ. Our identity becomes fixed not in our performance but in His finished work, freeing us from the exhausting cycle of trying to earn what we've already been freely given.