"Hey, No Fair!"

Workers in the Vineyard - Matthew 20:1-16

Growing up the oldest of three, I am pretty sure my parents will agree with me when I tell you that “Hey, no fair” was one of my most popular exclamations of protest. I often felt like everything was not fair. From something as little as not sitting in the front seat, not getting as many M&M’s, or not getting to watch what I wanted to watch on TV to something as big as my siblings marrying and starting their own families before me. Life can feel unfair when I am earthly-focused and lose sight of God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

Reading Matthew 20:1-16 it seems like a lot of unfair moments. Why should someone who worked longer hours get paid the same as someone who worked less? Is Jesus talking about earthly work and earthly wages, or is He talking about God's sufficient grace and mercy? Does someone who asks Jesus into their life at a younger age get less of God’s grace than someone who finds Him at a later stage in life? Can God’s forgiveness be earned and if so, what does someone have to do to earn it? What about someone who’s dedicated their long life to serving others or a thief hanging on a cross? Luke 23. Do they both get the same pardon from God?

Jesus answers in verse thirteen, by saying “I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave the one who was hired first. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”  

Here we are reading the spoken word of Jesus Christ written by Matthew, a worker who was hired first to labor in the fields, sowing seeds of faith for the first Church. Here I am 2,000 years later, nowhere near laboring as long and diligent as Matthew. Yet we both receive the same from Jesus, eternal life, forgiveness, mercies, and grace sufficient for all. Is that fair? Luke 13:30

Carmen wrote last week; that we can forgive because we know forgiveness from Christ and have been forgiven. We can also happily celebrate each other when we come to Christ and see with heavenly-focused eyes how God’s kingdom grows! We can delight in the Lord for our neighbors, coworkers, family, friends, and foreigners across continents when they receive God’s gifts at any stage in life because there is plenty for everyone! God’s kingdom is everlasting, Daniel 7:27. From generation to generation, Psalm 145:13. Abundantly supplied, 2 Peter 1:11.

Coming face to face with our brokenness and Christ’s ability to save us opens our eyes to how amazing that grace truly is, and, in that love, we desire for others to have that too!

For He saved us, not based on deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5. My prayer for us is that we all are washed and renewed by the Holy Spirit, coming to the Father with open arms through Christ Jesus so that we can rejoice in the abundance of God’s love and mercy! Hallelujah!  

-Nikki-