Jump Start # 810

Matthew 20:16 “So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

We have spent a week looking at this parable that is commonly called, “The laborers in the Vineyard.” Several workers were hired throughout the day to work in the master’s vineyard. At the end of the day they were paid, starting with the last group who worked only one hour. Each was paid a denarius. Only the first workers, who worked all day, knew what they were getting. It was a surprise for the rest of the workers to receive the same amount. The first group complained. They didn’t think it was fair for others to be made equal to them since they worked the longest. The master explained that he had a right to do with what was his.

Great story. Layers and layers of thought and applications. What is this all about? Why did Jesus tell this parable? It ends with this odd statement, “The first shall be last, and the last first.”

Earlier, in chapter 19, a rich young man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Great question. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. He asked what else. Jesus said one thing remains, “sell your possessions, give to the poor and come and follow me.” He couldn’t do that. He went away. A bit later Peter asks, “We have left everything, what will there be for us?” The young man couldn’t leave all, but Peter and the apostles did. Peter had in mind when they were first called by Jesus. They left their nets, their jobs and followed Jesus. What will there be for us? Jesus answers by telling him that they will have a position of authority and that anyone who left houses or families will receive many times more.

It is here that Jesus says for the first time, “The first shall be last, and the last first.” Then chapter 20 begins with our parable of the laborers chosen at different times. The first chosen was paid last. The last chosen was paid first. The parable ends with Jesus repeating the principle once again, “the first shall be last and the last first.”

Interesting. Intriguing. Who are the first? And, who are the last? Some see this being a Jew/Gentile concept. Some see this being the order of the judgment. The parable is not so much about the laborers as it is the master. The generous master is the key to the parable. He paid those who worked a few hours the same as those who worked the most. He paid those who worked in easy conditions the same as those who worked in the worst condition. The parable states, “Or is your eye envious because I am generous?” The generous master is what this parable is about.

Peter and the apostles left all to follow Jesus. They were the first chosen. They, the apostles, worked the hardest and in the worst conditions. They preached to audiences that were not Christians, but Jewish or pagans. They didn’t meet in church buildings but in synagogues, homes, market places and outside. Those in the crowds didn’t have copies of the Bible to follow along. They preached and preached. Harsh conditions. Chased out of towns. Arrested. Beaten. They continued on. Often, with little or no pay. They kept preaching. People believed. Churches were established. Elderships were appointed. Others followed to keep teaching as they went to new places. Those early years were tough.

A generation followed. Those first congregations grew and became stronger. New places. New congregations. The kingdom grew. More workers came along.

More generations passed. The Bible was copied and made available. It was soon translated in various languages. Hymns were copied and put in books. Church buildings were built. Across Africa, Asia, Europe the kingdom of God swelled. More workers.

The kingdom jumped the ocean and came to America. More congregations. More good. More people being reached. More workers.

Then we come to this generation. We wake up on a Sunday morning, hop in our cars and drive to church buildings. They are heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. There is a paid preacher who will give a stirring lesson. There are classes with all sorts of material about the Bible. Some in the audience will carry the Bible on electronic tablets. Through the week, workers can share the message through emails, blogs and other media that reaches more people in faster ways than ever before. Just consider what is happening with this Jump Start, and how many are reading it all across the world. Amazing. Paul couldn’t do that.

All of us are working in the vineyard for God. Each generation doing what they can to continue faithfully in God’s plan and reach as many others as possible. We are working together in this great endeavor. And someday, the work will end. The Master will call us to be paid.

It is then, at that time, that we will realize how generous God is. The last workers, will receive the same as the first. In many ways I tend to think we may be the workers who were hired at the eleventh hour. We have it good. We have it easy. Who doesn’t own a Bible today? Information, freedom and communication tools are so wonderful today. We work. We work hard. Yet, we have it so easy. At the payday, we will receive the same as the first. Being specific, we will receive the same as the apostles, the first workers. We will receive the same Heaven that they receive. God is making us equal with them.

Is that fair? No. We don’t deserve to be in the same room with the apostles. We haven’t done anything close to what the apostles did. We never will. Yet, the generous master wants to pay us the same.

I believe that’s what this parable is all about. The Lord was telling Peter and the apostles a lesson. They will be paid. They will be paid well. But others will come after you and they will be paid the same. Don’t complain. It’s the right of the master to do what is his. It makes the heart swell when you realize this. As a preacher, I have it good. Just a generation ago, I know several preachers who drove school buses just to make ends meet. Before that, preachers traveled on trains and horse back in all kinds of terrible weather to preach. I have it good, almost too good. All of us in America can say that. Great churches. Tons of materials and books. Songs on powerpoint. Comfortable places to worship. We have it good and yet God will pay us the same.

Two final thoughts:

First, we of all people have no place to complain. We have it good. Study the history of our spiritual forefathers. It humbles us to see what they did and what they went through.

Second, God is good. God treats us better than we deserve. God is not fair. If He was, we’d not get the same pay as the other workers. I’m glad He is not fair. I’m glad He is so generous.

Finally, all the workers worked when they were called. The last group chosen were idle because no one hired them. When the offer came, they went. God is calling us to the fields. It’s time to work. Work hard in His kingdom. Do what you can do. Don’t settle for inferior or substandard performance. Preachers, preach your best each time. Elders, shepherd your flocks well. Deacons, work with the heart of a servant. All of us need to be engaged in strengthening churches, teaching the lost, answering questions, building faith, encouraging the weak. There is much to be done. There are tons of resources. Think. Look. Explore. Get God’s word out. Share. Teach. Show. God is calling you to work,  let’s WORK. This is not the time to be soft, lazy nor indifferent. This is not the time to be silent. Speak up. Show up. To the fields we go. God’s work must be done and He’s called you and I to do it.

We do not work alone. Others have been working before us. Others have been in the field a long time. Our work is with their work. All of it is for the joy of the Master. It is His work that we do.

And some day the work will end…and we will be paid…and we will be amazed!

Roger