Read Mathew 20:1-16
When a British trade union leader was asked t o read this passage, he refused, because it defends the “unacceptable” principle of equal pay for unequal work.
As we look at this parable, we see that the main point is to stress the fact that God owes no one anything, but that every benefit received is an act of grace. The subject of this parable then is service and its reward. (It is not about salvation). Let’s review six important facts related in the parable:
1. A man owns a vineyard. It is not rented by him; it is his property.
2. He went out and hired workers at different times of the day.
3. Everyone who entered the vineyard was called. No one came looking for work, but responded to the call once it was given.
4. Those taken on early agreed to a pay of one denarious for the day’s work. It was a fair wage, the going rate and equivalent to about US$50 today. It was a contractual arrangement.
5. Those hired in the afternoon were not told what they would be paid – only that they would be paid what was right.
6. At the end of the day all the workers received the same pay – one denarious.
The issue here is not justice, but fairness. No one can deny that justice had been done. The ones hired at the beginning received the contracted amount. When the workers who had been hired first complained, what does the landowner say? “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. You received the amount we agreed. Therefore, if justice is done, have you any right to object to my generosity? Are you envious because e I am generous? The implication is that the owner had the right to do what he wanted with his own money and possessions. So does God.
The question is: Is it fair? Is it right that one worker received one denarious for just one hour’s work, while another toiled for 12 hours to get the same amount? Is God fair? How is God’s system of fairness operating here? Remember this parable is speaking about service, to those already saved. None of the men who were called to the vineyard were lazy loiterers. They all entered the vineyard when they were called. On what basis where they paid? Payment was made in accordance with fidelity to opportunity.
The workers who were called at the last hour never had a chance before. They had not been called before, however, when they were invited, they went in and worked. They were paid based on the fact that for that hour they were faithful to their calling. All the workers were paid for being faithful to the opportunity they were given – one hour, 3 hours of 12 hours.
The Lord has called you and me into His vineyard. Only one thing ought to occupy us – that we do the job He gives us. What opportunities has God given you? Are you taking them up? Are you embracing them? Are you doing them 100%?
Our opportunities vary in accordance with our circumstances. Billy Graham was given the opportunity of a world-wide ministry. A young mother is called to single-handedly bring up her children. Her name may never appear in a Christian magazine, but she has been called to train her children for God. Is she doing 100%? Is Billy Graham doing 100%? They will both be rewarded on the same basis – faithfulness to opportunity, faithfulness to the calling they have received.
We should thank God that He is a God of mercy, a God who gives generously and who rewards us according to His standard, not ours. We should not be doing anything thinking about the reward we receive, but only motivated by the calling we receive. We should not look at what others are doing, but only listening to what God is inviting us to do.
Questions:
What has the Lord called you to?
Would you consider your calling to be less important than someone else’s?
Are you being faithful to your calling?
Do you have any complaints about what you are called to?
When a British trade union leader was asked t o read this passage, he refused, because it defends the “unacceptable” principle of equal pay for unequal work.
As we look at this parable, we see that the main point is to stress the fact that God owes no one anything, but that every benefit received is an act of grace. The subject of this parable then is service and its reward. (It is not about salvation). Let’s review six important facts related in the parable:
1. A man owns a vineyard. It is not rented by him; it is his property.
2. He went out and hired workers at different times of the day.
3. Everyone who entered the vineyard was called. No one came looking for work, but responded to the call once it was given.
4. Those taken on early agreed to a pay of one denarious for the day’s work. It was a fair wage, the going rate and equivalent to about US$50 today. It was a contractual arrangement.
5. Those hired in the afternoon were not told what they would be paid – only that they would be paid what was right.
6. At the end of the day all the workers received the same pay – one denarious.
The issue here is not justice, but fairness. No one can deny that justice had been done. The ones hired at the beginning received the contracted amount. When the workers who had been hired first complained, what does the landowner say? “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. You received the amount we agreed. Therefore, if justice is done, have you any right to object to my generosity? Are you envious because e I am generous? The implication is that the owner had the right to do what he wanted with his own money and possessions. So does God.
The question is: Is it fair? Is it right that one worker received one denarious for just one hour’s work, while another toiled for 12 hours to get the same amount? Is God fair? How is God’s system of fairness operating here? Remember this parable is speaking about service, to those already saved. None of the men who were called to the vineyard were lazy loiterers. They all entered the vineyard when they were called. On what basis where they paid? Payment was made in accordance with fidelity to opportunity.
The workers who were called at the last hour never had a chance before. They had not been called before, however, when they were invited, they went in and worked. They were paid based on the fact that for that hour they were faithful to their calling. All the workers were paid for being faithful to the opportunity they were given – one hour, 3 hours of 12 hours.
The Lord has called you and me into His vineyard. Only one thing ought to occupy us – that we do the job He gives us. What opportunities has God given you? Are you taking them up? Are you embracing them? Are you doing them 100%?
Our opportunities vary in accordance with our circumstances. Billy Graham was given the opportunity of a world-wide ministry. A young mother is called to single-handedly bring up her children. Her name may never appear in a Christian magazine, but she has been called to train her children for God. Is she doing 100%? Is Billy Graham doing 100%? They will both be rewarded on the same basis – faithfulness to opportunity, faithfulness to the calling they have received.
We should thank God that He is a God of mercy, a God who gives generously and who rewards us according to His standard, not ours. We should not be doing anything thinking about the reward we receive, but only motivated by the calling we receive. We should not look at what others are doing, but only listening to what God is inviting us to do.
Questions:
What has the Lord called you to?
Would you consider your calling to be less important than someone else’s?
Are you being faithful to your calling?
Do you have any complaints about what you are called to?
No comments:
Post a Comment