Matthew 20:1-16
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’
8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
"Take what belongs to you!"
We are accustomed to hearing the Lord Jesus teach with parables. Each of them has a morality that we can detect through meditation and prayers. What do we learn from this parable?
We learn how keen the Lord is to invest in the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are given to every human being.
We also learn how God encourages us to use our energy positively for producing good fruit. It is never too late to respond to God's call that invites us to work with Him for our own good and enjoy His goodness.
In our plans and agreements, we need to have clear conditions from the very beginning to avoid justified misunderstandings and conflicts. This is what the landowner has done with the first workers in v. 2.
It's best to be realistic and content with our expectations, plans, and our work, and not compare ourselves with others as the first workers do when they compare themselves with the last ones in v. 10.
Imagining or assuming something is right doesn't make it right. That is the big mistake of the first workers who think they deserve more despite the agreement with the landowner. They have in mind that wages should be measured by efforts and earning, forgetting that grace can't be earned. It is bestowed by God, in whose eyes all people are equal. God has the authority to grant skills and gifts.
May the Lord help us respond to His call and joyfully respect His generosity as we invest according to His will.
May we learn to live our true commitment and true contentment without resentment, complaining or grumbling.
Let us give a few minutes to think about God's generosity towards us and how we respond to it.
It is never too late to honor God's invitation to use our energy positively.