| Matthew 20:1-16 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his 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 the eleventh hour 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 men 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, 'Friend,I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man 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." Before the Lord told this parable, Peter asked a question that everyone wanted to ask but was not comfortable asking: "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?". Then the Lord told this parable. The Lord had said before in 19:28-30 that everyone who followed the Lord would receive reward. But many disciples didn't know what to do with this parable. The Lord said, 'There was a landowner. At different time of the day he invited men to work in his field, promising the same wage. When it was time to pay those men, while the men who came last was very happy after receiving their wages, the men who came first couldn't help but complained unfairness to the landowner after realizing that while they worked the whole day, but received the same wages as the men who worked one hour, The landowner said, 'Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Are you envious because I am being a good person? So the last will be first, and the first will be last.' Brothers and sisters, do not run for the rewards. On one hand, the Lord promised us rewards, on the other hand, our eyes should not fixate on the rewards. If you only focus on the rewards, you will start to compare. You will feel unfair, despair and disappointed. If you focus your attention on God, God will be your reward. What is the motivation of your service? rewards? Or God that gives rewards? May God help us to fixate on Himself! 
Lord, may you examine our hearts. Help us not to focus so much on earthly possessions and rewards. May the Lord draw us closer, so that we are running and serving only for the Lord. I thank you and I pray in the glorious name of Jesus, amen! |
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