Jump Start # 809

Matthew 20:11 “When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner,”

We continue our look at Jesus’ parable of the laborers in the vineyard, a powerful lesson about the goodness and generosity of God. Various workers were hired throughout the day to work in the vineyard. Only the first group knew exactly what they were making that day. They agreed to work all day for a denarius. That was the typical pay for that type of work. The rest of the workers were told that they would be paid “what is right.” What is right would be less than a denarius because they worked less than a full day. That’s what is fair.

At the end of the day, the workers were paid, starting with the last group. The last group hired worked only one hour. They also worked in the best conditions, 5 PM– 6 PM. The ground is not wet with dew at that time. It is not cool like in the morning, nor is it hot like it is midday. Five o’clock is the best time to work. They had it good. At pay time, these last workers were given a denarius—a very generous amount. They never expected that. That was over the top for what they did. They worked one hour and received a full days pay! You can imagine how excited they would have been. Those standing next in line must have started the calculations in their head. If these last guys got a whole denarius for one hour, then working three hours must mean three denarius—which equals three days of wages. Next, the men who worked six hours must have thought that they might make 6 denarius—which is a whole week. The guys who worked 9 hours, 9 denarius? Then we come to the last group. They worked all day, 12 hours. Doing the math, they must have thought that they would received 12 denarius—a denarius an hour is what it seems like the master is paying. Twelve denarius would be two weeks of wages. That meant these men may not have to come down to the market place in the morning. Wild hopes and dreams would fill their minds.

When it came their time, they received one denarius. Just one. They thought that they would receive more. That’s what seems fair. They worked longer, harder and endured the worse conditions. Our verse says that they grumbled at the landowner. They go on to protest, saying, “You made these last men who worked one hour equal to us.” You can see the disgust in their voices. You can hear them saying, “that’s not right. That’s not fair.”

The landowner reminded these first workers that they received exactly what was promised. They were not cheated. He reminds them that their envious eyes made them think that they would get more. A deal was made and a deal was kept. The master did nothing wrong.

In our Jump Start tomorrow we will discuss who this first group represents and what things they endured. For now, there is another lesson, envy towards others.

The first group complained. They felt cheated. They did not like that others received what they did. They did not like the one hour workers being equal to the all day workers. We see pride, jealousy and hurt feelings. They felt the master was unfair. He was. He was generous!

Hasn’t God done that with us? Made us equal. The Galatians were told that we are all one in Christ. There is no Jew, Gentile; or slave, master; or, male, female. We are equal in Christ. That was difficult then. It is difficult today. Can you imagine during a worship service back then, a master serving the Lord’s Supper to his slave? That’s a turn of events. They were equal in Christ. In the world they were not. Same is true with male and female. The first century world favored the male. He had many privileges that the female did not. It was truly a “man’s world.” Peter reminded husbands that their wife was a “joint heir” of the grace of life. Equal in Jesus.

How about today? How about this person who has lived a rough and sinful life for many years. His body bears the marks of his wild lifestyle. Hard partying, drug use and alcohol have dominated his life for years. He looks rough. He looks scary. Someone reaches out to him about the message of Jesus. He listens. He is captured by the goodness and love that God has for him. He comes to Christ in obedience. He surrenders himself and leaves his sinful ways. He comes to church services. There he is. Others, who have gone to church all their life see him. They feel he doesn’t belong. He doesn’t look like one of us. He still wears leather. His hair is still long. He smells. Whispers start. Rumors fly. Grumbling begins. The brave complain to the preacher. Why is “he” here? Does he want money, they assume. Is our children safe? Should we hire security? Complaints. Rumors. Unhappy campers. Instead of rejoicing, they have a hard time with that person being made equal to the rest.

The prodigal son’s older brother had problems with the prodigal coming home. He absolutely thought that there should not have been a feast and a celebration. As he approached the house there was music and dancing. Are you kidding? Where are the lectures? Where are the shouting? Where is dad tossing him out? The prodigal who wasted and was sinful, an equal with the older brother? He couldn’t handle that. He was angry and stayed out and missed the joyous party.

We like grace when it comes to us. We have difficulty when others get grace. We especially have a hard time when others who have been so bad are made equal to us. Unlike the first workers in the parable, we generally do not complain to God, we just complain to others like us. Those people shouldn’t be allowed here. I knew a church that was located in a college town. What great opportunity. Some older members complained about the college kids coming. One even said, “I wish we didn’t have those college kids.” Can you imagine? College kids, coming in with wet hair, backpacks, electronic gadgets, running about a minute late, sitting in the very front, what are they thinking? I can tell you. They are thinking about God.

We like grace. We just feel that it ought to be on a scale. Those of us who have been pretty good in life ought to sit closer and have a higher rating with God than those who were so wicked in life.

All of this thinking is skewed. We are thinking too highly of ourselves and too lowly of others. We are all sinners. That’s the fact. We all need Jesus. We ought to be thankful that any and all  come to Jesus and stop complaining that some don’t wear “Sunday church clothes” or they don’t know all the books of the Bible or that they are still fighting addictive habits. They are trying. The master has invited them. We ought to do thankful that the master doesn’t escort us out the door for our complaining and jealous thinking. He’s included “them” as well as “us.” It isn’t fair, we scream. That’s right. God is not fair. If He was fair, we wouldn’t be allowed through the doors. God is good. God is generous. Even to “us.”

God makes us equal. The professor and the student—equal in Jesus. The banker and the bankrupt—equal in Jesus. The graduate and those who never went to college—equal in Jesus. The sons of preachers and the sons of robbers—equal in Jesus. Those from good homes and those from broken homes—equal in Jesus. Those happily married and those divorced—equal in Jesus. Those who grew up in church and those who never went to church as a child –equal in Jesus. Those who know the Bible stories from memory and those who heard them for the first time—equal in Jesus. A dying Savior and a thief on the cross—”Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.” Same place. Same destiny.

The first workers had no place to complain. They were given what was promised to them. May I learn from that. If God makes them equal, I need to as well. Include them. Invite them. Love them. Pray for them. And maybe, after some time, I won’t think of them as “them,” but rather “our family.” Together. Equal. One.

It’s hard, but that’s what God wants.

Roger