Spiritual depression - Lloyd-Jones - IX - Chapter 9

Required reading

Spiritual Depression by D. M. Lloyd-Jones (available from Amazon) - Read Chapter 9, 'Labourers in the vineyard'.

My notes and thoughts
Today's reading is an exposition of Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the labourers in the vineyard.  Initially Lloyd-Jones looks at the causes of the spiritual depression of the labourers who worked the most:
(i) A wrong attitude toward themselves and their work;
(ii) An assessing of their work and the work of others;
(iii) Murmuring taking away joy and happiness;
(iv) Contempt and a certain amount of jealousy of others;
(v) Feeling that the householder is unjust.

The treatment for this type of spiritual depression is:
(i) Do not think in terms of bargains and rights in the Kingdom of God;
(ii) Do not keep a record or an account of your work;
(iii) Not only recognise that it is all of grace, but rejoice in the fact that it is so.

I appreciated Lloyd-Jones honesty about the 'penny in the slot' idea of Christianity - that if we do a certain thing God will be obligated to do a certain thing.  The illustration used is that prayer meetings for revival should mean that God must send revival.  But Lloyd-Jones says: 'Think of the many such prayer meetings that have been held.  And yet the revival has not come, and I am going to venture to say that I thank God that it has not.  What would the position be if we could command these things at will?'  Be glad that God isn't obligated to do what foolish humans will, but only what he wills.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.