"Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you." V14 Matthew 20:1-16. NKJV
A landowner went out early to hire workers to labour in his vineyard. Some of the workers started around 6am, doing a full day's work. It was agreed that they would be paid a denarius, which was the going rate for a day's labour. Agreeing to this, they set to work. Throughout the day, the landowner set on more workers at 9am, 3pm and finally at 5pm. To each he told them he would pay whatever he felt right.
At the end of the day, he called the workers who had been hired at 5pm and then the ones at 3pm and 9am and paid each of them a denarius. When he came to the workers who had been there since 6am, they were expecting to be paid more than their agreed day's pay. However, they also received a denarius. They complained about this, claiming that it was unfair, after all they had been working all of the day. But the landowner told them that he was not treating them unfairly, but had paid them what they agreed to; it was his money and he could do what he chose. He said to them, 'Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.'
This is the heart of Jesus. He takes the forgotten, the people who have been passed over and the rejects and has compassion on them - He sees their potential. Don't forget these workers, who were set on later in the day, had actually been standing and waiting all the time hoping for work.
When we see this happen in our church or elsewhere, we can be tempted to feel like the first workers did, thinking, 'It is so unfair.' We can then begin feeling bad towards the person who is being favoured and to the one who is favouring. When we do this, our motives are completely wrong.
God can and does, distribute His gifts and His goodness as He chooses. He doesn't have to ask us first what we think. He is free to bestow His favour on whom He desires. It's called grace.
Just for a moment, remember the many times that God poured His grace upon you. The obvious one is when you were born again. He saw your potential when no one else could see it or care about it. Then think about the grace He has shown you since - the answered prayer, the love He has given you to share with your family and friends and the blessings. And don't forget that He has made you a cherished child of God.
Now that's what I call fair.
Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard
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