October 18th 2012. I got my text from Our Daily Bread (ODB)-and it read...What has God done for me lately? Hmmm indeed catchy!!! So I couldnt hold my curiosity. The passage was from Matthew 20:1-16 and it goes on about some guy who decided to help a few young men by giving them a job. He hired them for a day, but at different times of the day. Obviously, when the day ended it was time for some well-deserved cheddar. Those who were hired last were called in first and got their pay. Finally, the first guys got their turn, and because they had worked longer than everyone else expected their pay to better. I mean think about it, if you work your ass off isnt the expectation to get greater results?
To their greatest disappointment (and injustice, they might have added), their pay was 1 silver coin or denarius, like the others. Now thats just cold! Grumbling. Gruntling.
I am a firm defender of fairness, and in all sincerity, I might have done just the same. However, the guys response to one of his dissatisfied workers made me ponder:
“I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one 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?’
Till today I wonder why Jesus taught with parables... because truth is sometimes, I dont get it. But then I realise why the case might be. Perhaps he wanted us to think. He could have just made his point, but instead he told a story you could relate to, and left you to your own conclusion...so you could think about it. Thats just awesome except that some of us still dont get it, and thats why reliable sources like ODB are needed to break it down.
Anyway, what I learnt at the end was pretty basic: be content with what God gives you, and stop comparing with others. The silver coin (which probably represented a lot) became insignificant the minute these workers focused on what their mates were getting. What God gives He does freely and generously so we ought to be mostly grateful rather than grumble over what He gave others, and not us.
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