The Laborers in the Vineyard
or The Generous Employer
Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to them he said, `You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, `Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, `Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, `You go into the vineyard too.’ 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, `Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, 12 saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Meditation: What can work and wages, wefare and the unemployed tell us about the kingdom of God? In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard we see the extraordinary generosity and compassion of God. There is great tragedy in unemployment. In Jesus’ times hired laborers had to wait each day in the marketplace until someone hired them for a day’s job. No work that day usually meant no food on the family table. The laborers who worked all day and received their payment complain that the master pays the late afternoon laborers the same wage. The master, undoubtably, hired them in the late afternoon so they wouldn’t go home payless and hungry. God is generous in opening the doors of his kingdom to all who will enter, both those who have labored a life-time for him and those who come at the last hour. While the reward is the same, the motive for one’s labor can make all the difference. Some work only for reward. They will only put as much effort in as they think they will get out. Others labor out of love and joy for the opportunity to work. The Lord calls his disciples to serve God and neighbor with generosity and joy. Do you find joy in giving freely to others?
“Lord, may I serve you and my neighbor with a glad and generous heart, not looking for how much I can get but rather looking for how much I can give.”
by Don Schwager
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Inside the mind of cree 
I loved reading this whole entry. Here’s my nickel & two pennies on it.
No woman or man on earth can determine if another man or woman has done enough or shared the word enough, be ‘allowed’ in God’s Kingdom. I believe, At the end of the day it’s all about what you’ve done & did you do it from your heart. And for all of your sins have you truly asked for forgiveness, from your heart. I’ve read my bible & other materials, I haven’t studied theology but that’s what I honestly believe.
Another thing that came to mind… Re: Some work only for reward.
Volunteering; some people feel they can’t volunteer for different things or organizations because they won’t get paid cash or check to do it. Some people do it because, it’ll look good on their resume’ or letter. (The reason I say that is because when applying for *Some* Nursing schools, in addition to your overall G.P.A., points and all of that… that’s one thing *some* schools take in consideration over another potential student. Some people are aware of that and may or may not have thought about volunteering before but, now that it’s more important and beneficial for them they’ll make an effort to find the time to volunteer.
Re: Do you find joy in giving freely to others?
I am one of those people that love to make others happy and/or especially someone that’s really in need. Some people take it for a weakness and will try to use you but, if you’re giving from your heart if they’re lying about what they may need to borrow money for or if they need you to baby-sit while they go to work and really don’t go. etc. that’s on them. They asked for it I’m only offering what will not hurt me & what will not hurt my relationship/friendship with that person if they do not give it back or if they do not do the same for me. Just like going to church… People are so worried about what they give in church and what the church & etc. is doing with the money… Well, if you go into it thinking they better be doing this… and that… then you are not giving it for the right reason.
After a person that may look like a crack head ask me for change because they want to eat or like most they won’t tell you what they’re going to use it for. I can’t give them money and tell them I hope you’re not going to do drugs with this… or drive away thinking… they’re probably going to do this or that with it I shouldn’t have given it to them. If you didn’t want to give don’t give. If you don’t want to do something don’t do it. If you do something thinking “I’ll be blessed for this” then you’re not doing it for the right reasons. Do it because it’s in your heart and you feel it’s the right thing to do for that moment and for that person.
I face those challenges (almost) everyday I go to a local convenience store & sometimes I give and sometimes I don’t. As of late, I haven’t been asked as much…
Uhhh Buh-Bye Nite-Nite
:o)
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What I Love about this scripture most is that is saying that even if you come to Christ, believing in him and his Father even at the last hour you will still be rewarded.
Have you seen people who talk about God all day, and all night, you see them helping people seem like all their lives? Those are the people who labored for God all their lives, they will see the reward as promised by God. And then you see people come to God at the last days of their lives………and they too will receive their reward. So these scriptures are saying come to Jesus while you still have time. As long as you are living you still have a chance to get your reward.
Lacrease
“You got Gold at home, but you go out and get Rhinestones?”~~ Mrs. Charlene Hayes
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Well… I guess I typed too much:
>>>No woman or man on earth can determine if another man or woman has done enough or shared the word enough, be ‘allowed’ in God’s Kingdom. I believe, At the end of the day it’s all about what you’ve done & did you do it from your heart.<<<
That’s what I meant too it was in the beginning I just went into left field. Talking…. Typing, typing, typing as I do.
~ T
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