In May, early in 2020 (May felt like early 2020), I was recommended to read Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the workers in the vineyard, by my devotional (52 Weeks with Jesus by James Merritt). The story begins with a vineyard owner going out to find people to work in his vineyard for the day. He finds workers early in the morning and agrees to pay them a daily wage. As time passes, the vineyard owner continues to go out and sees people standing around doing nothing. So he offers them to work for his vineyard as well, offering to pay them whatever he believes is right. He does this again and again up until the very end of the day. When the workday ends, he tells the foreman to pay the last hired workers first. The foreman does as he is told and pays the last workers first. He pays them one denarius, a full day’s worth. Of course, the first workers hired see this and assumed if the last is getting paid one denarius, for sure they will be paid more. They were not and instead paid one denarius just like the last workers hired. The first hired workers feeling cheated become disgruntled. The vineyard owner notices and asked the first workers if they were upset about the amount they were paid or at the generosity he had extended toward the last workers.
My honest opinion immediately after reading that passage was, “that didn’t seem fair.” But why? I put myself in the shoes of the first workers, thinking about if I had worked all day and seen a worker who only worked a fraction of the hours I did. Then receive the same pay as me at the end of the day; I would feel some type of way, that’s for sure! Initially, I was going to title this blog entry as something to do with unfairness. Still, as I reread the passage, I noticed verse 13…
“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage?”
Matthew 20:13
Clearly, I was taking the perspective of the first workers in this parable, and I believe that was the intent. Had the first been paid first, they would not have stayed to see what the last got. They would have left the vineyard, assuming the pay of the last workers was less than theirs.
As I meditated on this parable, a couple things jumped out at me. First was the age ole saying that we are all familiar with, “The first will be last, and the last will be first.” When I always thought of that saying, I always thought of people’s places being switched. Still, with this parable, I realize it is the removal of those places altogether. Everyone receives the same thing no matter what your place is. This parable is a reminder for me that it doesn’t matter if you have been following God your whole life or if you just decided to follow God; you receive the same favor and love from Him. The other insight I got from this parable was that in life, sometimes we are the first worker, and other times we are the last. But of course, when you are the first worker, you conveniently forget the times you have been the last. I recently started a position where I thought, yes, I worked hard for this position. Still, others have worked just as hard and been with the company for a much longer period of time and did not get this position. Why was it given to me? In this situation, I felt like the last worker in the parable. You can’t explain the why in favor. You can only praise God for what He has done.
Finally, comparisons make us focus on the favor God has shown to others when we should focus on the favor God has given us in our lives. The funny thing about this parable is that both workers were shown favor at that moment. The first hired worker knew they would get a daily wage because they were selected early in the morning. In contrast, the last hired worker had no clue they would get to work at all that day. When the last worker worked the last hour of the day, they did not know how much they would be paid, if at all. The first hired worker received the comfort of knowing they were going to get a daily wage, and the last hired the surprise of a daily wage when not working a full day. That’s the beauty of God, to show favor in all our lives and in different ways. First or last, rich or poor, having just found God or been a follower all your life, God shows favor in all of our lives.
Ask yourself…
What are the times when I have been the last worker?
What are the times when I have been the first worker? How did you react?
What favor has God demonstrated in your life recently?
Great insights, Kadeen. And there certainly are many layers to this parable that we often overlook. It’s human nature to compare ourselves with others. But it is NOT God’s nature. Overcoming this tendency is a monumental task. There are so many situations that come to mind where we likely wouldn’t even considering applying this parable, even though it clearly is no less appropriate to do so. It also makes me think of the Israelites who although they are God’s chosen people, although he had saved and provided for them time and time again, continue to flaunt the grace of God, behaving as though they had learned nothing from the last crisis. Oh, how many people do we witness with this same attitude in our modern times?! Praise God for his grace and mercy! Praise Him for his unwavering fairness and generosity!
My favor Start early this Easter morning
when Jesus touched me and awakened me
Thinking back over my life favor’s started early with me I can’t remember but only know what my mom and other family members have told me about the early part of my life I was a preemie baby I was so small that my fingers would bleed if I would bump them against my crib
And over the years of my life I have seen God work favors, miracles and blessings
Knowing it was God showing me favors
I always remember to say thank you and never take it for granite God favors and his mercy and his grace is what he
sacrifice for us. 1 Peter 2 Verse 24
Jesus dying on the cross taking our sins in his own body that we will be dead to sin but live unto righteousness and by his stripes we are healed. Everyday of my life Jesus have shown me FAVOR just by keeping his promises when I leaving home and returning safely getting on the airplane landing safely going into the operating room coming out safely Jesus sending his angels to watch over me I called those things favors favors from God !!
And yes you are correct on your Parable what he does for one he will do for others. In God eyes we are all first we are lined it up just where he wants us to be. Have anyone ever experience this been in line at an amusement park and you was at the end of the line and when the door open’s it opens from the opposite end so everyone has to turn around and face the opposite way now you’re not last anymore you’re the first in line again Jesus has you lined it up just where he wants you to be🙏🏾😘
trust God love he’s always working behind the scenes for our good reading your blog
You touched my heart I love you
We serve an awesome God keep up the good work God bless you