Scripture

”He said to one of them, ‘ I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay the last worker the same as you.’”

Observation

Jesus tells a parable to illustrate the kingdom of heaven. A land owner went out early in the day to hire workers. He hires some, but find it’s not enough, so he returns at various times in the day and hires more workers.

At the end of the day, he pays the workers from the last to be hired to the first. He pays them all the same amount, regardless of how long they worked. When those who started early in the morning complain, he says, “You agreed to work for this amount. Take your money and go. Don’t be jealous of my kindness to others.”

Jesus concludes by saying that those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first now will be last then.

Application

Jesus overturns all of our natural expectations. It seems unfair to pay a man who works all day the same as a man who only works an hour. On the other hand, both men need the same money to live on.

When we are tempted to say, “it’s not fair!” to God, we need to realise that God is not about fairness, but about grace. If God gives me enough grace for me, how can I complain when someone else seems to get a better deal? My eyes need to be on God, not on my brother.

Our concept of fairness arises because we live in a world of limited resources. If one person has a lot, it seems to be at the expense of someone who has less.

God is the God of more than enough. He has an infinite supply of everything. So for God to give a billion dollars to one person while giving one million dollars to somebody else, is not a lack of fairness. It is about what we can handle with wisdom and joy .

Prayer

Lord, please forgive me for complaining about fairness, when I should be thanking you for abundance. Help me to focus on what others need from me rather than what I want from you. Amen.