That’s not fair. Why did she get a raise and I didn’t? I do just as much work as she does!” “Why was he chosen to lead the project when I’ve been here longer?”
I should get what I deserve is a work ethic that many of us live by. So we easily identify with the first-called workers in the parable that Jesus told in Matthew 20 (Matthew 20:1-2).
Those who worked all or most of the day—during the hottest part of the day—believed that their pay would exceed that of those who had worked an hour or so (Matthew 20:10). They thought: “Surely, if those who worked for one hour received one denarius, I deserve more.”
But soon they realized that something was amiss. The ones who began working at 9:00, noon, 3:00, 5:00, and 6:00 all received one denarius (“daily wage” Matthew 20:8-9). And sure enough, they too received one denarius (Matthew 20:10). They felt shortchanged (Matthew 20:11-12).
Imagine for a moment that instead of receiving a coin, each of the workers had received their pay in an envelope, which they opened in the privacy of their homes. As they caught sight of the denarius tucked within, their eyes would have surely brightened in delight. For one denarius was the typical day’s wage for an ordinary laborer. It was appropriate!
When we begin to live in the light of what I’ve done and what I deserve—comparing ourselves to others, we’ll start calculating our reward based on our efforts rather than on God’s grace.
May we proclaim as the apostle Paul did: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do His work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve Him” (1 Timothy 1:12). His reward will be perfect just as He is perfect.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Nehemiah 5:1-19
More:
Read Romans 12:9-16 to see what should govern our relationship with others—especially those with whom we work and serve.
Next:
How have you grumbled about God’s generosity to others? Why is it easy to think that another believer in Jesus has received greater blessings than you have?
nivla on April 30, 2012 at 5:12 am
i believe the same goes with salvation.
we have discussed this with some of my music team fellows in one of our devotions.
At times, we feel, it is unfair that other people, no matter how bad, how cruel they have been all their lives, get the same salvation we received, if they accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour later in their lifetime.
“Goodness, i have been toiling to be good, to do good all my life? and this person, who’s been bad and has done detestable things in God’s eyes, gets the same reward? You have to work hard as much as I did.”
And then, I came to a point of checking my heart. I was very wrong. My motives were impure. FUll of pride. I had succumb myself to the deception.. that my salvation is based on my works, and not on what Jesus has done. I already asked for and accepted God’s forgiveness because of this. After all, what is that to me? It’s Jesus who decides.
JOHN 21:22
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
nivla on April 30, 2012 at 5:29 am
Oops.. the better term is not pride nor deception.. but self righteousness.
godisgood on April 30, 2012 at 7:53 am
That’s so true Nivia. Because of the grace and mercy of God it doesn’t matter when we accept Him, the reward will be the same. What an awesome God we serve. Whether we accept Him at the age of 20 or 80, He will be there to bestow His forgiveness and love upon us.
I have family members who have not yet asked Jesus into their lives, but I am so glad I am serving a God who, no matter what your age or circumstance will accept them when they call upon His name and that gives me hope and peace.
God Bless!
J.C.
nivla on April 30, 2012 at 8:30 am
Amen!
I too have many relatives that are yet to be won for Christ. This message simply brings me hope, it’s never too late, but I have to move now and press on! 🙂
Godbless..
lindafrances on April 30, 2012 at 10:07 am
I could be wrong, but I think many Christians who would feel it unfair that someone who lived an ungodly life, and later in life received Christ, while they obeyed God and bore fruit, can look at one other piece of the puzzle. There are consequences of not accepting Christ when you first heard the truth or had lived a really ungodly life before coming to Christ.
The new believer will always regret time wasted; time they can never have back. They now probably see their unsaved loved one and know they have less time to pray and witness to those who are lost. Though they can ask God to redeem their lost time, they will often wonder, “what if”.
Those who lived a truly wicked life before Christ, have a hard time forgiving themselves and must deal with issues that the long-time faithful servant most likely doesn’t have. I think it’s Luke 7 that talks about those who are forgiven much, loves much more.
Being the faithful one who answered the call immediately, and doing the work we are called to do, I think, means a more peaceful and joyful life.
tom felten on April 30, 2012 at 10:21 am
lindafrances, yep, you’re right. The verse is found in Luke 7:47—”I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
nivla on April 30, 2012 at 10:11 am
Great perspective, lindafrances! True, that’s the other side of the coin/puzzle.
yemiks1 on April 30, 2012 at 1:58 pm
…that is why walking with God is not by the Gifts but the Fruits-HOLINESS!
jimgroberts on April 30, 2012 at 2:37 pm
The parable of the prodigal son gives us much insight to the human condition.
Often those who work faithfully for a long duration build up the idea that they can only earn favour by hard work losing the truth of the grace of their father. The other son accepted that His Father was merciful and reaped the grace of his Father.
We find it difficult to hold on to the supernatural love of God That Gives us what we DON’T deserve.
daisymarygoldr on April 30, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Had the landowner paid those who were hired early, first—they would have gone home satisfied with the wage they received. Note, the foreman was specifically told to make payments, beginning with the last workers first. Meaning the worker who worked the least was paid a full day’s wage. This led the first who worked the most, to assume they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage.
In this parable of equal wages for unequal work, Jesus is teaching His disciples an important truth: God’s grace is not a right that we can demand. Peter’s understanding of grace is in terms of deserving God’s favor. This was his reason for asking Jesus “What will we get? We’ve given up everything to follow you.” (Matthew 19:27).
Today, many have the same thinking that God is under an obligation to reward them for their sacrificial service. What else do you think is the idea behind questions like: “We have followed God’s will, yet why are we suffering, while the wicked are prospering?”
There are those who claim to have understood what is so amazing about grace. And yet talk about being disappointed with God because He did not meet their demands. Others boast of their long Christians innings—30 to 40 years of having done so much for God – ministry and mission trips. But they are disgruntled that God is unfair and did not do enough in return.
This teaching on the last getting paid first, does not apply to salvation alone. It also extends beyond that to blessings God bestows on His children. Christians with a labor union leader mentality, begrudge blessings of fellow believers. Warren W. Wiersbe said it right: “The Christian who is a people-watcher is never satisfied with what God gives him but always wants what somebody else has.”
Those who think we deserve more because we’re so good need to take an honest look at ourselves in the mirror of God’s Word. Is it not lawful for a just God to shower the riches of His mercy on whoever He chooses to show mercy? Or is your eye evil because God is good? (Matthew 20:15, NKJV)
tcarr89 on April 30, 2012 at 9:05 pm
great post and great comments. If we truly knew what we deserved, we would NOT want it at all (death for our sins)!!! As far as wanting what others have I struggle with that same question, except mine goes in the opposite direction: “Why aren’t I suffering? If I’m a Christian, where’s my persecution? Why do I have a job, a car, with parents who provide for me? All the ‘trials’ I’ve ever experienced weren’t enough to crumble my world and leave me clinging to Jesus… I thought all true, God-fearing believers were supposed to be homeless, broke and alone?”