Matthew 20:1-16
Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” The “Laborers in the Vineyard” has always been a parable at which I have bristled, not unlike the early-morning laborers. Truly, however, I do get it. It’s about the Kingdom of Heaven (v. 1), not about life on earth. And those of us who came to the Lord in our early- or mid-life years have no more claim to the Kingdom than an 11th-hour convert. So I quickly get beyond “what’s fair” in this earthly sense and understand the parable for what Jesus intended.
Funny that this parable should follow the story of the “rich young ruler”. As I noted a couple of days ago, each of us is very, very rich compared to so many people in poverty throughout the world. So how fair is that? Even the gift of our English language is “unfair” to the rest of the world, where children are taught in their early school years to begin learning English, the language of worldwide commerce. Together with the latecomer laborers, we need to be fully grateful for what we have been given and to be good steward of the blessings bestowed upon us. The words “sacrificial giving” come to mind. What would seem to us to be “sacrificial” would be an abundance of wealth to billions of others around the world. Let’s be grateful for what we have and generous with our money, time and talent.
Slava Bohu!
Yes, yes, Fred. The parable of the laborers is about God, not the laborers. It is God who is gracious, not what we think we deserve.