A lot of how we feel about life, our relationships, and what is “fair” has more to do with one word than most people give credit. Perspective.Today, in worship, we heard the story of the generous vineyard owner who paid all his workers the same day’s salary whether they were hired at the start of the day or at five o’clock. (Matthew 20:1-16)
Whoa, this is an emotionally charged story for me! It really messes with my sense of what is just or fair.
Yet what is just and fair is really a matter of perspective.
Whose perspective is truly more just and fair? Mine, based on the equity of work performed vs. pay? Or God’s, based on the solution of daily bread for all?
In this story, the vineyard owner calls to task all who question his generosity to do what he wants with what is his. Did we not agree, at the start of the day, to the wages we were paid? So what have we to complain about that the Lord saw to it that no one was left without the means to feed his family at the end of the day, regardless of the amount of work they did? In the Lord’s perspective, everyone worked and everyone will be paid. No one deserves more or less than another.
As Pastor Fred reminded us this morning, when we pray for God to “give us today our daily bread,” we are not asking for daily bread for 5 days, but for today. If we trust in God to provide for our needs, we do not need to fear what is just payment… we all will have what we need.
The justice in this story, seen from the perspective of the owner of the vineyard, is a hard pill to swallow.
And yet, it is just this kind of story which can help us to see how abundant God’s love is.
For we will all find ourselves in the position of the five o’clock worker at some point in our lives…hoping for work and wages to make ends meet (or asking forgiveness, or some other venue in which we have been less than successful) and being given the riches of God’s Grace, completely and unabashedly undeserved, yet freely given to us.
Human beings too easily fall prey to sin and selfishness. We are incapable of creating a society where we can accept the perspective of the generous vineyard owner as a way of doing business.
It is only in God’s house, where that perspective can reign and prosper. In that, this story gives us a glimpse of the glory of what God’s heaven is like, and what we have been promised for our eternal life with God.
It calls us up short for all the times we think we know what is right and wrong, and points out a different perspective of what is justice for all.
It’s all a matter of perspective. Mine might prosper me now, but God’s will prosper all for eternity.
What do you think of this story? Have you witnessed God's Grace in ways that initially seemed unfair to you? Leave a comment and tell us your story of seeing God's abundance and generosity in action.
It’s probably a good thing God doesn’t give us what we deserve. Amen.
Join us for worship on Sundays at 8:30 & 10:45 am.
Christian Education at 9:45 am
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
335 Reynolds Ave., Parsippany, NJ 07054
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