Scriptures: Jonah 3:10-4:11; Matthew 20:1-16
Whenever I read this parable, I always think, “You know… that’s just not fair!” You bust your butt all day, do your work, then you get to see your reward. You earn it.
That’s the way the world works. That’s the way I was raised. It’s that good old fashioned mid-western work ethic. You work hard – you reap the benefits of those rewards. You don’t work hard… well, if life were fair, then everyone who doesn’t work as hard doesn’t get to reap the same benefits.
Right? That’s how we think it’s supposed to work.
However, Jesus’ parable about the workers in the vineyard stands this idea on its head. Those who have worked and toiled in the field all day receive exactly the same benefit and wage as those who were the Johnny-come-lately’s.
Whenever I read this parable, I always think, “You know… that’s just not fair!” You bust your butt all day, do your work, then you get to see your reward. You earn it.
That’s the way the world works. That’s the way I was raised. It’s that good old fashioned mid-western work ethic. You work hard – you reap the benefits of those rewards. You don’t work hard… well, if life were fair, then everyone who doesn’t work as hard doesn’t get to reap the same benefits.
Right? That’s how we think it’s supposed to work.
However, Jesus’ parable about the workers in the vineyard stands this idea on its head. Those who have worked and toiled in the field all day receive exactly the same benefit and wage as those who were the Johnny-come-lately’s.
