In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells of a vineyard owner who employs people at different times during the day to come and work in his vineyard. At the end of the day, he calls all the workers in, starting with those he employed last and working back to those who had worked the full day, paying each a denarius (a day’s wages).

Those who had been hired first grumbled that they who had ‘borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day’ (v. 12) were being paid the same as those who had only worked one hour in the cool of the evening. They believed that they ought to be paid in proportion to their labours: those who worked few hours should be paid little; those who worked many hours should be paid much.

But the vineyard owner had a different perspective. Behind each worker he saw a family in need of support, and he knew that a fraction of a denarius would not be enough for the daily needs of a family. And so he paid them in proportion to their need, rather than their efforts.¹

Isn’t it easy to fall into the labourers’ envious way of thinking? We look at those around us and ask ourselves whether they ‘deserve’ the things (good or bad) they receive from God. But our Father sees their need and meets it, just as he meets ours.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor 9:8)

Endnotes

1. Kistemaker, Simon. The Parables of Jesus. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1980, 78.