FOR OF HIS FULLNESS WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED, AND GRACE UPON GRACE.
John 1:16
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 20:1-16
The Workers in the Vineyard
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. [And] he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.
He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? [Or] am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
ARE YOU ENVIOUS BECAUSE I AM GENEROUS
REFLECTION
How is kingdom of heaven on earth like a landowner sending laborers into his vineyard?
There are many souls yet to bring into the kingdom. All hands on deck! Jesus has told us, do we listen? “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few”, Luke 10:2
The land owner (God) has promised what is just. All that we are, all that we have is gift from God. Why grumble! Jesus reminds us of our unworthiness to make demands… So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’ ”Luke 17:10
Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies … People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights Psalm 36:5-8.
No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it Corinthians 10:13. We may encounter road blocks, thorns, pestilence, and darkness along the way but trust in Jesus!
The land owner goes out again and again seeking workers. He asks, “Why do you stand here idle all day? Do we ask ourselves why we stay idle or surf the internet or social media, or play games when the harvest is so great? Surely, there is something we can do.
Do we ever grumble about how God is not paying us what we think we deserve like those who worked a full day? Wow! Think about getting paid by God what we deserve! But we have a merciful God, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Exodus 34:5-7 Mercy is love we don’t deserve.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Are you envious because I am generous?’
Are we envious of others good fortune? Envy is one of the seven capital sins that leads to so many other sins, thefts of goods or reputations, resentment, anger, hate and even sometimes murder.
God gives generously even to those who oppose Him. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last,” seems very confusing at first glance. Perhaps, one meaning is a caution about judging other people as less than ourselves….a counsel that pride goes before the fall…or the parable Jesus addressed to those convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else….the Pharisee and the publican in the temple.
The publican knelt in the back and beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner. Luke 18:13 Then, Jesus tells us, the publican went home justified and those who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
It’s said that there are two kinds of people, those who see the glass half full and those who see it half empty. But there is a third perspective enjoyed by those who know and trust the Living God. Our lives are neither half full nor half empty, but always overflowing with abundance through the loving generosity of God.