Matthew 20:1-16
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
The trap of comparison. We all fall into it. Just yesterday, my children were comparing the amount of cereal in their bowl and the size of the cupcake they received. Instead of being happy to have a treat or a breakfast they enjoy, the decided to grumble about what the other person had.
In this parable though, Jesus makes it clear, the landowner (God) decides what is right and fair. We are all working towards the same goal- eternity with Christ. Regardless of how long one has been walking with Christ, the reward is the same.
The problem is our hearts. The envy. The pride. The sense of entitlement. We want what is best for us. Thus, sometimes we forget our sin nature can completely corrupt our hearts and cause us to miss out on the blessing.
Because the vineyard workers chose to compare their wages, they were no longer satisfied with that they received. However, had they never known about the other’s wages, they would have been happy to earn their paycheck.
But let’s take a look at the master of the house for a second. Despite the attitudes of the workers, the master is fair. He goes out looking for workers. He agrees to pay them a fair wage. He does what he said he would do. He is faithful.
Friends, God is the master of the house. He goes out looking for us to do the work for His Kingdom. The reward is a Kingdom reward. Life with Christ. Now. Access to the Father. Now. Hope for eternal life.
Sometimes the work the Father request of us seems tedious. Sometimes it does not seem as exciting or important as the missionaries rebuilding homes after tornadoes or evangelizing to Muslim nations. But the work He has called you to is His work, you must eagerly join Him in His work.
Don’t let comparison, jealousy, and envy rob you of the joy of your blessings.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.
Look at your blessings.
Be grateful for those blessings.