Parables & Complaints
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ “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.’ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These 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.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” - Matthew 20: 1-16 NIV
Have you ever read this parable? A parable is a story God uses to teach us how the Kingdom of Heaven works. In its correct context (the biblical time period and verses surrounding it) Jesus is teaching the people of His time about the Kingdom of Heaven. There were groups of people during this time that had differing views of how to live. One group believed everyone had to do all these religious acts and it held them in higher esteem. In these verses, Jesus is negating that.
Imagine this story in modern day times. You go get a job at a barn. It’s your first day there and they pay $500.00 per day. When you get there, they put you to work mucking stalls and moving horses. As you go throughout the day more people show up to help you. You’re so excited because you realize you’re going to get done at 3:00 instead of 5:00 and still get paid the same amount of money! The day goes quicker and all five of you (there’s now four people helping you) go to get paid. The owner of the farm hands each of you $500.00. I’m now going to place you in a “Choose Your Own Story” scenario. How are you going to react?
Tell the owner that you can’t believe the person who started at 12:00 is getting $500.00 when you started at 7:00 a.m.! Explain that you deserve more and scorn the other people. You demand that you get double that pay.
2. Express your gratitude to the owner. Then, turn and thank all of the other workers. You can’t believe how they showed up when you needed them and then you go about your day. Since you finish early, you get to go home and relax for a couple hours before the family or roommate gets home!
Here’s the deal with this parable/teaching that God is giving. Everyone can get into Heaven through the grace and salvation given by Jesus. It doesn’t matter if you start at the beginning of life or moments before they die. God is “willing that all should make it to eternity”. He wants us to cheer and celebrate any moment someone comes into the Kingdom of God. In today’s modern day example, I’m learning about that second scenario in regards to teamwork.
God is showing me that this applies to working together for the Kingdom or for a job. Be grateful for the help! Shift your perspective. Instead of complaining about timing or pay, be grateful God gave you fellow believers to walk alongside you. Ask others to join your team - whether in your personal life, church, or ministry. Celebrate their wins and learn to shift from a voice of complaining about others to celebrating their wins! Hope you enjoyed my spin on a parable and check out more parables in the Bible to see how God can shift your perspective in your life today!