Today's Reading:
Matthew 20,21,22
Scripture
“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.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon 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 they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner… “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend… (Matthew 20:8-13)
Observation
“That’s not fair”! When situations are challenging, when things don’t work out how I expected or wanted, or when life is just confusing, these three words often manage to wander into my mind. “That’s not fair” that my dad got cancer, “That’s not fair” that COVID ruined 2020, “That’s not fair” that financial situations are such a struggle, as the rich of the world get richer and us “average” families suffer. This thought is a natural one that we all face. Frankly, there is truth in the belief that this world is not fair, yet we, as Christians, can have a far different perspective if we choose to see things God’s way!
Jesus tells a short story, called a parable, with the hopes of teaching His listeners a Kingdom Principle. He tells of a landowner who went out, around 6 am, to hire some workers with the promise of 1 denarius as payment for the day’s work. They return with him to his house and begin working. The landowner apparently has lots more work, so he goes out to find more laborers at 9 am, 12 pm, and then again at 5 pm. At around 6 pm, he calls in the workers that were hired last and gives them 1 denarius for their work. When the workers who started at 6 am saw this they “expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius”. They immediately began grumbling, and in their own words said… That’s not fair! The landowner responds in a very gracious way to these grumblers and reminds them that he is not being unfair. He continues by saying it’s the amount they agreed upon and that they should not be jealous because of his generosity.
Application
This is an amazing picture of God’s grace! Our God is a generous God! Thankfully, God doesn’t give us what we deserve or what is fair. Because of our sin and failures, because of our flesh and shortcomings, we deserve judgment, punishment, and death. Our Heavenly Father rewards us far above what is fair, He blesses us far beyond what we should receive, and His gifts are far greater than we deserve. I wonder how many times I have dishonored God’s gift because I was caught up in my own selfishness of what I thought was “fair”. My dad is no longer sick or suffering but He’s worshiping with the angels in heaven, COVID has afforded me the opportunity to spend amazing time with my family, and God continues to provide for my family and meet our every need. It’s amazing how a shift in my perspective, a shift to the Kingdom Perspective, a shift to seeing things God’s way, changes everything. The devil wants us to dwell on what we don’t have or didn’t get, but God wants us to rejoice in the amazing gifts He has already given!
Prayer
Jesus, forgive me for the times I have dishonored Your gift because of my selfish expectations. Thank You for Your grace and generosity that gives me far beyond what I deserve and what is fair. When life is tough please remind me that Your grace is more than sufficient. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
