Today’s Devotional Theme Is God Unfair?
Daily ScriptureMatthew 20:1-2, 11-13
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard… And when they had received it [the denarius], they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way, I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.’”
Encouragement
If a parent with kids ages 12 and 8 gives the older child a $5 dollar allowance and the younger only $3, the 8-year-old may complain and say, “Mom, that’s so unfair! You’re giving him more than me!” Mom’s response may be, “Yes, and Andy’s older than you. When you’re a few years older, I’ll raise your allowance.” We people seem to have an inborn sense of fairness. However, what is fair in the kingdom of God goes against our logical notion of what is fair. When I first read the parable of the workers in the vineyard, I felt the owner of the vineyard was being totally unjust, giving all the workers including those who worked just one hour in the cooler evening the same, agreed-on one denarius. Only more recently could I see the kingdom justice in giving all the workers the same wage.
Apply God’s Word
Here’s how it works: In Jesus’ time, the standard wage for a laborer who did any work was one denarius. That was enough for that person to buy provisions for himself and his family for the next day. In other words, a denarius was the standard living wage. By that standard the vineyard owner paid all his workers what they needed to live on. This parable vividly illustrates the grace of God. Jesus didn’t introduce a new concept with His teaching on grace. He was actually applying to His time a characteristic of God that the sages of old knew well – an attribute that was well attested in the Old Testament. The realm of God’s grace (His favor freely given to meet our needs) is quite at odds with the world of merit-pay (more money for more work or higher-tier work).
Come into His Presence
Lord God, Who rules over all, we thank You for meeting our needs – and more than merely meeting them. You bless us bountifully and we bless You for being our God in abundant and lean times alike! In Jesus’ name, amen.
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