Cut and Paste - Feb 2003

The Bible is full of parables. Each is designed to make the complex concepts of Eternity, God, and God’s way understandable to us with finite minds. Many times we read them, love the story, love the simplicity, but do not get the concept. One of these parables that has always meant a lot to me is the parable of the workers found in chapter 20 of Matthew. The NIV translation of this scripture follows:

Matthew 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

Matthew 20:3 "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, `You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5 So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, `Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?'

Matthew 20:7 " `Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, `You also go and work in my vineyard.'

Matthew 20:8 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, `Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.'

Matthew 20:9 "The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 `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 of the work and the heat of the day.'

Matthew 20:13 "But he answered one of them, `Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

This is a great story. The workers that were hired first, around 6AM, agreed to work for a standards wage for a day of field labor - one denarius. A day of labor was about 10 hours of work, not counting breaks. More workers were hired at 9AM, at noon, at 3PM, and at 5PM (the eleventh hour). The vineyard owner was obviously a honest and honorable man and has made his wealth honestly. We know this because at the end of verse 4 and the beginning of verse 5 the Bible tells us that he agreed to pay the workers hired at 9AM “whatever is right”, and they went and worked for Him. If the owner had not been honorable and trustworthy they would have ask for more detail or for some sort of guarantee. Obviously then, the owner is a right and just man and one that is known to be fair.

It is also obvious, that the first laborers (the ones hired at 6AM) had worked about 12 hours were truthful and honest as well. They had worked longer then a normal day, so it was obvious that they had not only done their duty (working 10 hours), but exceeded what was expected of them. These workers had worked all day. They had suffered in the heat, in the wind, and they had the strained muscles that resulted from a full day of labor. No where in the parable is their any note of a problem with the work that was done. There is no record of the vineyard owner having a complaint or grievance, so we are left to assume that these 6AM workers were good and honest laborers. This means that the workers hired at 6AM were trustworthy and honest like their employer. So, the workers that were hired first obviously earned and deserved their pay.

Toward the ends of the story, the vineyard owner has the foreman pay the workers. He pays the workers that were hired last (5 PM) one denarius, or in other words, he paid them for a full day. Then all the other workers were paid, and they each received one denarius, including the ones hired at 6AM. A problem arose then, because the workers hired last were paid the same as the ones that had labored 12, 9, 6 and 3 hours respectively. The bible says that the other workers “grumbled”.

This is the point that really speaks to me. How many times do “mature” Christians grumble and complain to God because those that are new in the faith are blessed as equally as we are. We complain that a young Christian is having blessing in their life right and left. Maybe their marriage is thriving, like we thought our would. Maybe they get a new job or new house when we languish in our job and constantly battle to keep our own house repaired. Maybe it is as simple as us saying things like -“They just come to church. They are not involved in the body. They barely do anything for God. I’m in choir, I serve on committees, my spouse and I just got back from the annual marriage retreat, and I teach my Sunday School class when the teacher is out of town. How is it that they are as blessed by God as I am.”

The simple truth of the matter is found in verses 13 thru 15. God owns everything that we have. He allows us to use the blessings that He gives us. If He chooses to give something that He owns to someone it is HIS choice. We have no right to complain about how God chooses to distribute His gifts and blessings.

God gives us exactly what He promises us, Salvation. We gave Him our valueless, worthless, pointless life and in return He gives us a future, He gives us hope, He gives us direction, and He gives us a purpose. We agreed to that deal. Once we agree to the deal, we have no right to complain if He chooses to give others more of something then He gives us. His blessings, His choices, His time, His way, and we have no say in it. Our works, our service, our time, our labor, none of these “earn” us a place in Heaven. We are going to Heaven simply because God sent His son to die for our sins, and because we believe in Him and accept His GIFT of salvation.

Remember to worry less about what others have and thank God for your blessings. I have found that my blessings are far more numerous then I realize when I sit down and think about them. It is truly overwhelming just how blessed I am. God pays me exactly what He agreed to when I accepted Him into my life. God cares for me, He loves me, He provides for me, He directs me, and He overwhelms me. If God chooses to bless others in the same fashion then it is just more amazing and that is not something that I should complain about.

Blessed in abundance.

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	The Bible is full of parables. Each is designed to make the complex concepts of Eternity, God, and God’s way understandable to us with finite minds. Many times we read them, love the story, love the simplicity, but do not get the concept. One of these parables that has always meant a lot to me is the parable of the workers found in chapter 20 of Matthew. The NIV translation of this scripture follows: Matthew 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. Matthew 20:3 "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, `You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5 So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, `Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' *Matthew 20:7 " `Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, `You also go and work in my vineyard.'* Matthew 20:8 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, `Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' Matthew 20:9 "The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 `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 of the work and the heat of the day.' Matthew 20:13 "But he answered one of them, `Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' This is a great story. The workers that were hired first, around 6AM, agreed to work for a standards wage for a day of field labor - one denarius. A day of labor was about 10 hours of work, not counting breaks. More workers were hired at 9AM, at noon, at 3PM, and at 5PM (the eleventh hour). The vineyard owner was obviously a honest and honorable man and has made his wealth honestly. We know this because at the end of verse 4 and the beginning of verse 5 the Bible tells us that he agreed to pay the workers hired at 9AM “whatever is right”, and they went and worked for Him. If the owner had not been honorable and trustworthy they would have ask for more detail or for some sort of guarantee. Obviously then, the owner is a right and just man and one that is known to be fair. It is also obvious, that the first laborers (the ones hired at 6AM) had worked about 12 hours were truthful and honest as well. They had worked longer then a normal day, so it was obvious that they had not only done their duty (working 10 hours), but exceeded what was expected of them. These workers had worked all day. They had suffered in the heat, in the wind, and they had the strained muscles that resulted from a full day of labor. No where in the parable is their any note of a problem with the work that was done. There is no record of the vineyard owner having a complaint or grievance, so we are left to assume that these 6AM workers were good and honest laborers. This means that the workers hired at 6AM were trustworthy and honest like their employer. So, the workers that were hired first obviously earned and deserved their pay. Toward the ends of the story, the vineyard owner has the foreman pay the workers. He pays the workers that were hired last (5 PM) one denarius, or in other words, he paid them for a full day. Then all the other workers were paid, and they each received one denarius, including the ones hired at 6AM. A problem arose then, because the workers hired last were paid the same as the ones that had labored 12, 9, 6 and 3 hours respectively. The bible says that the other workers “grumbled”. This is the point that really speaks to me. How many times do “mature” Christians grumble and complain to God because those that are new in the faith are blessed as equally as we are. We complain that a young Christian is having blessing in their life right and left. Maybe their marriage is thriving, like we thought our would. Maybe they get a new job or new house when we languish in our job and constantly battle to keep our own house repaired. Maybe it is as simple as us saying things like -“They just come to church. They are not involved in the body. They barely do anything for God. I’m in choir, I serve on committees, my spouse and I just got back from the annual marriage retreat, and I teach my Sunday School class when the teacher is out of town. How is it that they are as blessed by God as I am.” The simple truth of the matter is found in verses 13 thru 15. God owns everything that we have. He allows us to use the blessings that He gives us. If He chooses to give something that He owns to someone it is HIS choice. We have no right to complain about how God chooses to distribute His gifts and blessings. God gives us exactly what He promises us, Salvation. We gave Him our valueless, worthless, pointless life and in return He gives us a future, He gives us hope, He gives us direction, and He gives us a purpose. We agreed to that deal. Once we agree to the deal, we have no right to complain if He chooses to give others more of something then He gives us. His blessings, His choices, His time, His way, and we have no say in it. Our works, our service, our time, our labor, none of these “earn” us a place in Heaven. We are going to Heaven simply because God sent His son to die for our sins, and because we believe in Him and accept His GIFT of salvation. Remember to worry less about what others have and thank God for your blessings. I have found that my blessings are far more numerous then I realize when I sit down and think about them. It is truly overwhelming just how blessed I am. God pays me exactly what He agreed to when I accepted Him into my life. God cares for me, He loves me, He provides for me, He directs me, and He overwhelms me. If God chooses to bless others in the same fashion then it is just more amazing and that is not something that I should complain about. Blessed in abundance.