“Are you envious because I am generous?”
Matthew 20:1-16
20 ‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; 4 and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” 7 They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” 9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” 13 But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’
Yesterday we saw how having financial resources can be a hindrance to following Jesus, today we see another thing that gets in the way: being jealous of the grace offered to others.
It is important to read the story carefully. In vs. 2, the owner agreed to pay the workers he hired at the start of the day (6 am) the usual daily wage and they agreed to work for that amount. Then in vs. 4, the owner returned to the town-square and finding people who have not been hired, the owner hired them promising, “I will pay you whatever is right.” Those who started at 9 am and noon and 3 pm (vs. 5) were all promised the same “whatever is right.” Those who started work at 5 pm, an hour before quitting time, were just told to go work in the vineyard, there was no indication of what they would be paid (vs.7). Notice the language of “whatever is right” – not “whatever is fair” -- is promised to the workers.
The workers were in reverse order, those who have worked only 1 hour get paid first and the fact that they get a full day’s wages was seen by those who have worked for the 12 hours since 6 am. The expectations were raised that they would get more than the day’s wage they were promised – they hoped for more. But the owner is faithful to them and gives them a day’s wage, just as was promised. Those who have worked all day are upset – and the owner asks a simple question – were those who worked all day cheated. To which the answer is “no”. And then the owner far more tellingly asks, “Are you envious because I am generous?”
Sometimes we get upset with how generous God is, well let’s be more honest – we get upset with how generous God is to other people. We don’t tend to be upset with God’s generosity to us. God invited us to recognize that grace is generous, but it is not fair. We are invited to recognize that God’s kingdom is not built on what is fair but on what is right. The last being first and the first last is not fair, but in God’s upside-down reign it is right.
PRAYER:
Lord you are generous, and at time we are jealous of the generosity you show to others. We are envious of the grace you freely offer to other people. Change our hearts, that we might celebrate the beauty of your upside-down world, in which generous grace is offered to all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.