pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: landowner


by Leave a comment

Generous

Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Matthew 20:16 – “So those who are last will be first. And those who are first will be last.”

Returning to the parable of the workers in the vineyard, today we focus on the landowner’s response to the grumbling of those who thought they were first. The landowner reminds them first of their agreement. They are asked to take what is theirs and to go. The landowner asserts that it is their right to give as they want to give. The parable itself ends with this question: “Or are you resentful because I’m generous?” As I read this ending today, I am reminded of connections to these stories of Jesus: the story of the rich man and Lazarus and the story of the thief on the cross.

Shifting from story teller to teacher, Jesus says, “So those who are last will be first. And those who are first will be last.” The ones who think they deserve more grace, more of God’s love, a better place at the table… will be and often are upset, disappointed, saddened when someone who hasn’t been as faithful, who hasn’t served as much, or who is clearly a greater sinner receives the same grace, love, forgiveness… from God. It is hard to reckon in our human hearts and minds that such as these might need to be lifted from “last” more than those who already know and receive God’s love…

There is also a call for us to be more like the landowner. In this life there are times when we can be generous with our money or with our time, talents, and other resources. Surely we’ll help a good friend in a time of need. But are we as quick to help that grumpy neighbor or that ornery co-worker? These who we see as “last” maybe should be “first” when it comes to the living out of our faith. And this would not primarily be for their benefit.

Prayer: Lord God, we are quick to receive when you love, forgive, encourage, or lift us up. We’re even grateful when a family member or good friend receives from you. Help us to be at least as grateful when one considered the least is also blessed. And with this gratitude, lead us to be generous with our love, grace, forgiveness… Thank you, Lord. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Comparing and Contrasting

Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Matthew 20:12 – “These who were hired last worked one hour, and they received the same pay as we did even though we had to work the whole day in the hot sun.”

We end our week with the parable of the workers in the vineyard. The story begins with a landowner hiring workers at 6 am. It is harvest time, so extra workers are needed. He agrees to pay them a denarion for a day’s labor – 12 hours. As work progresses throughout the day, the landowner keeps thinking he needs a few more workers to complete the harvest. So at 9 am, noon, 3 pm, and even at 5 pm he hires more workers. The landowner agrees to pay each group “whatever is right.” Some will work 9 hours, some 6, some 3, and some will work just 1 hour.

The work day ends and the landowner instructs his manager to give the workers their wages – starting with those who worked one hour. They and everybody else receives a denarion. Only the workers who actually agreed to work for a denarion are upset about their pay. They grumble against the landowner, saying, “These who were hired last worked one hour, and they received the same pay as we did even though we had to work the whole day in the hot sun.” This seems so unfair, so unjust in their minds.

At times we too can struggle with the grace, generosity, love… that God gives to others. By comparison we think we are more faithful, harder working, and, therefore, are more deserving of these free gifts from God. We grumble – always to ourselves and sometimes to God – about how unfair or unjust it all is. In these moments, may we remember that we are all on our own unique journeys of faith and that we all receive just what we need from our loving, generous, good God.

Prayer: Lord God, in those moments when we are tempted to compare and contrast ourselves with others, remind us first that we have an audience of one: you. And then remind us, O God, of the abundant love, grace, mercy, and more that you abundantly pour into our lives. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Honest, Generous, Righteous

Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Verse 4: “You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.”

Returning to the parable today we first recognize that the scenario played out in the market was very familiar to Jesus’ audience. Men hanging around hoping to be hired for seasonal work was the norm. Having people to fill this role was a necessity in their agrarian culture, much as it is today in that sector of our economy.

For those hired earliest, they agree with the owner on the usual daily wage. One denarius was the coin used to pay a Roman soldier and it was enough to feed a family of four for a few days. These day laborers would hope to work 2-3 days a week to provide for their families.

The owner offers a different deal to the rest of the workers. They accept his offer to pay them “whatever is right.” Although it turns out well for these workers, there is some trust required in this open-ended offer. Right is objective. One denarius is not. These workers choose to entrust their lives to the character or reputation of the vineyard owner. He is honest and generous and righteous. This sounds like someone that I’d like to work for. How about you?

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for being kind and generous and righteous with us. You do not demand a strict adherence to an agreed-upon set of rules. As it was impossible to keep the list in Jesus’ day, so too is it in our time. So thank you for your grace and mercy too. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Chosen

Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

Verse 1: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.”

Photo credit: Summertrain

Today and tomorrow we will study the parable about workers in the vineyard. The main character and the focus should be on the landowner. We can be tempted to make it about the vineyard workers because they are us. It’s really about God though.

The landowner is up and out and about early in the day. At 6 am he is already at the gathering place for day laborers. A plan is in place. It was set long before 6 am. The parable does not say if some of those present were hired or if all that were there at 6 am were hired. Since we’re talking about God here, I bet all that were there were hired. God welcomes one and all who seek to be of service in the kingdom of God.

As the story unfolds, the landowner returns again and again and again, still seeking to include more folks in the work. Each time he not only promises work, but he offers fair treatment too. God even returns at the last hour, looking for a few more folks to include in this kingdom work.

In the parable, being chosen is great news. Your family will eat that day. In this life, being chosen is great news too. Life here and the life to come just became incredibly better. In response may we rejoice today over our place in the kingdom of God. And may we not stop there. May we be invitational too, encouraging others to enter a place where they will be loved and provided for. As we have received, may we share with others.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for calling me into the labor of your kingdom. Thank you for your generous love and care. Use me to call others into the life that you offer to all of us, no matter where we are, no matter when we come to you. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Friends and Fairness

Reading: Matthew 20: 1-16

Verse 13: “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius'”?

When the landowner hires the first group, early in the morning, they agree on a denarius for their pay. With each subsequent group the landowner says, “I will pay you whatever is right”. It was an agriculturally based economy and a denarius was the accepted wage for a days labor. The ones hired at noon, for example, would expect a half denarius for their efforts. To have good workers in your vineyard, fair pay was essential. To be able to provide for your family, a fair wage was essential. This remains how the world works.

At the end of the day the foreman is directed to pay the ones who only worked one hour first and to work his way to the ones who worked twelve hours. The story would have a totally different feel, a different impact, if told the other way around. If paid first, the twelve hours crew would go home with their denarius, happy to have earned a whole days wage. Those hired later would be happy about receiving more than they deserved, especially the three and one hour crews. But this is not a story about happiness. It is a parable about God’s grace and love towards us and about God’s sense of fairness and contentment. The parable is aimed at the religious, at those who think it unfair that a lifelong sinner could be suddenly saved and forgiven. The religious disliked how easily and freely Jesus welcomed sinners into the family of God. He was so generous with his time and love. The religious wanted the sinners to live right first – meeting all the requirements, following all the rules, jumping through all the right hoops – before entering the family of God. They wanted the sinners to get all cleaned up before joining the family. Jesus was too much of a “take you as you are” kind of guy for their particular taste.

In verse thirteen the landowner responds to the angry twelfth hour folks by saying, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius”? There are two things to note here. First, the owner calls the employee “friend”. That would be like God calling you and me ‘friend’. Wait, God does. God does not rule from on high, looking down on us, condemning us if we fail to be perfect. No, God invites us to walk and talk with him, to be his companion, to be our friend – warts and sins and all. Second, the landowner reminds the workers that he is not being unfair. I need to be reminded of this over and over when my inner Pharisee rises up and tried to look down on the humble tax collector over in the corner. God promised us grace (among many other things). God’s grace is not a finite quantity. When another receives God’s grace, there isn’t suddenly less for me. Yet sometimes I begrudge others receiving grace. Because of God’s endless love for all of humanity, there is always more than enough grace for us all. Instead of worrying about what others received, we should be thankful that we are blessed by God’s grace. I always receive way more than I deserve. Today may we each give thanks for God’s abundant grace and for our personal relationship with God, giver of grace.

Prayer: Lord God, this journey is not about happiness or getting my “fair” share relative to others. There’s no earning my way into relationship with you. So turn me from the world’s sense of happiness and from the earthly desire to compare. Help me to simply trust in my relationship with you. You desire to be my all in all. Guide me to live like I believe that and trust into that all of the time. May I rest today in your love and grace. Amen.