Matthew 20:1-16
‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 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?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 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.” 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? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’
Reflection
From the passage cited a couple of days ago the message of privilege becomes clear. As I hear Paul's message it's a privilege to believe. It's also a privilege to suffer for the sake of the gospel. And in this passage I can see where it is a privilege to work for Jesus in the kingdom of God, or in the vineyard in this case.
It's not about the pay or the reward or the satisfaction it brings to myself. It's about the privilege that God gives each of us and all of us to be able to work in the vineyard, to be able to believe in Jesus, to be able to suffer for the gospel.
We all are homeless and begging for work. None of us deserve anything. In fact, due to my sin, your sin and the sin of all the people we only deserve... deserve... death and eternal punishment in hell. Think about that. We don't deserve anything and we aren't owed anything by anyone... especially God. We aren't entitled to one little thing!
But... but... God sent Jesus into this world as flesh and blood. God came to us in this world through flesh and blood. God came to us in the power of the Holy Spirit and Mary gave birth to Jesus who is God. And through Jesus life, ministry, teaching, healing, suffering, death and resurrection gave us a privilege. A privilege that we did not earn. Jesus gave us a privilege to believe. Jesus, that is God, gave us a privilege to work in the kingdom of God. Jesus, gave us a privilege to live with God in God's Kingdom and enjoy everlasting life with God and with all God's people. God GAVE this privilege.
So why grumble? The longer I'm in the realization and the promise of this gift of the privilege to believe, to work, to suffer for the gospel... the happier... the more joyful... the longer I'm with God in God's love.
Yet... when you think about eternity... what's a few hours in a day. Let's all be happy for the one that is given the opportunity to enjoy the privilege... even if they only arrive to work at the end of the day.
Thanks be to God!
Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJH9BLrN83U
Prayer
Lord, lead us all to hear your call and join in the privilege to work in your Kingdom... no matter what time of day... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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