Generous employer

Matthew 20 : 1 - 16

...do you begrudge my generosity?

God is portrayed as a most generous and compassionate employer in this story told by Jesus. Times were difficult in Jesus' day - and hired laborers had to wait each day in the marketplace until someone hired them for a day's job. No work that day meant no food for the family. The generous employer understood their predicament and to both the early and late workers, he paid the full day's wages. They had enough to feed their family. The early workers felt some 'injustice' - after all we should get what we deserve is something we seem to take for granted. We forget that the kingdom of God does not function that way. Some come faith early, some later and some at the last moment. Yet, the important thing is the attitude with which we serve. I have heard it crudely described that as we put in our 'good works' we can imagine the "clank clank" in heaven as the points (what use would actual coins or gold bars be, in heaven) stack up in heaven.

The Lord wises us to labor with love, doing what is entrusted us with a generous spirit, just as he is a generous employer. He is not stingy and calculative but wishes to bless all and invite all to enter the doors of his kingdom. He invites those who have worked hard for him all their lives, he also invites those who have not had early opportunities and come in later.....and he rewards both groups, and all groups in between, equally. God is generous far beyond our human standards. When I think of this, I am reminded that my response to such an employer ought to be wholehearted generosity in my service, with love and not merely for reward, and certainly not to look around me comparing who is or is not worthy of his generosity.