Unfairness of Grace

“But he answered one of them, ‘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?’ “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

‭‭– Matthew 20:13-16 NIV

By Ellyn Franklin

There is a famous parable Jesus tells in Matthew 20:1-16 about the owner of a vineyard, who hires workers early in the morning, again at nine, again at noon, again at three, and again at five. When the work day comes to an end, the owner pays them all the same: one denarius. The workers who worked a full day complain about the unfairness of the situation, but the owner of the vineyard answers them in Matthew 20:13-16. "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? So the last shall be first, and the first shall be last."

Some of us represent the "full day workers" who started living for God from the dawn of our lifetime, while others represent those who started work at five; they might surrender their lives to God mere seconds from death. God's grace is the same for all. This parable brings me a lot of comfort when I think about family members who have passed away without professing Christ. If we think about that late worker as a brother, parent, or friend, it's easy to thank God for his "unfairness." I also thank Him for the chance I've had to work in His vineyard for so long already - there is no more fulfilling work.