Fair and Square; I sure hope not (Matthew 20:1-16)

A vineyard owner needed some help for the day so he set out early in the morning to find people to help Him. He found some people and told them that he would pay them a Denarius (daily wage). A couple hours later around 9 a.m. the owner went by the same spot and found a couple more people and told them that he would pay them what was right. He went out again to them same spot at 12 pm and 3 pm. Both times hiring more people to work at his vineyard. The day was drawing to a close but the owner went by one last time around 5 pm and found a couple of workers standing there waiting. He hired them as well. When the day came to a close the owner called one of his servants and told the servant to pay the workers for him. He said "pay the from the last hired to the first". The ones who were hired at 5 pm received a Denarius for their hour of work so the early morning workers thought that they were going to receive much more but when they got to the servant they also received one Denarius. Quickly the ones who were hired first began to complain amongst themselves that this is unfair. They then went before the Landowner voiced their complaints. (Matthew 20:1-13)

This is what the Landowner said to them

 ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one 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?’  (Matthew 20:14-15)

When we read this story it is easy for us to see where the first workers are coming from. They worked hard all day to receive the same amount as someone who had only worked an hour. Today that would be called unfair. But what if everything was fair? What if we always got what we deserved?

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So if life was actually fair...we would be going to Hell.

Romans 3:10
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;

God saved us! He gave us a chance to make everything unfair. We could never get into heaven alone because we are sinners and the fair thing for sinners is to go to hell but thanks to God's grace and His son we can spend eternity with him.

Many people ask what about those who don't live a life like Christ? What about the people who receive Christ after a life full of sin, hate and rage? Surely a murderer accepting Christ on his deathbed cannot receive the same reward as I, someone who has tried hard to pursue after God's ways? The answer is yes. Eternal life is for all who choose to surrender to Christ, believe that he died for their sins and that he rose from the grave conquering death. Think of the thief at the cross who Jesus said “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The cross wasn't a place for a liar it was the place for the worst of criminals yet right before he died this man on the cross humbled himself to Jesus. Life isn't fair my friends at least not in the same way that we see it. I thank God for His allowance of something greater because if we got the plan old fair and square we wouldn't have anything to rejoice about.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair
Relient K
Thanking God that life isn't fair,

Tony