August 12

God's Even-handed Goodness

‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. So he told them, ‘You also go into my vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last ones hired and moving on to the first.’ The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when the original workers came, they assumed they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarius. On receiving their pay, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Did you not agree with me on one denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ — Matt 20:7-15 BSB

Yes, God is good! Though our perception may be clouded by the atmosphere of this world, and our judgment skewed, nothing changes the verdict of the universe. God is so good that He will reward those who, though they longed to serve, never had the opportunity. Perhaps they waited all day for a chance to work, but the day passed, and no opportunity came. Or maybe their chance finally came, but only for a brief hour. Still, their reward will be counted not just for that hour but for what they would have done had they been called at the beginning of the day.

This is not how humans think, but it is how God works. He gives "of His own" to those who have been faithful to their opportunities, whether their time was long or short. "Of His own!" His own love! His own joy! His own satisfaction!

However, all who enter that inner circle must be prepared to drink from His cup and be baptized with His baptism (Matthew 20:23). Those who will sit on His right and left in glory are those who have humbled themselves in selfless service. Followers of Jesus are not to be served but must be willing to serve others, even to the point of laying down their lives. They must follow their Master, who, even on His way to redeem mankind, paused to heal two blind beggars (Matthew 20:34).

Prayer

Oh, Son of God, fill our hearts with Your gentleness, our hands with Your compassionate touch, and our spirits with Your sensitivity to human need and sorrow. Amen.