“GOD'S GENEROSITY LEVELS THE FIELD”

Matthew 20:1-16

It is obvious that the arrival of the workers at different times of the day didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the laborers. Those who were hired early in the morning were familiar with those who had been working side by side with them from the start, and also recognized those who didn't join their ranks later on. Likewise, it was also evident to the workers just who had been pulling their share of the load from the start, and who had been sloughing off.

It's human nature. We do the same thing. You know which of your fellow employees are hard workers and which of them are just putting in their time. In school sporting activities, you know which of your teammates are giving one hundred and ten percent and which of them don't know the meaning of the word, “hustle.” Even in marriages, one spouse can't help but compare himself or herself to the other as far as patience, love, and kindness are concerned; and often there's a sense of resentment that the other isn't putting as much into the relationship as you are.

Likewise, in the kingdom of God , we can't help but notice that there are some who are very active in their spiritual lives and there are some who are not—at least there are from our point of view.

But, what today's parable does is to show us that God has leveled the field. He knows, for instance, who has been a Christian since they were baptized as an infant and He knows who wasn't brought to faith until their latter years on their deathbed. He also knows which of the laborers in His kingdom have labored intently and which of them just plodded along. In the end, if you trusted in the grace of God you will be there in heaven.

But it's not just at the end of the day, when all is said and done, that God shows His impartiality. No, God's regard for those whom He has called to faith is the same from the beginning, all through our lives, and to the very end. He regards all people—even the unbeliever, the same.

Which is a fact that we have a hard time tolerating. And like the laborers in the parable, who took exception with the Master of the vineyard according to their logic and reasoning, our reasoning would tell us as well that if it's all a wash, why bother doing anything at all in the kingdom?

But, people, if we are asking ourselves that question, then it's evidence that we really haven't caught on to the secret of the Kingdom as yet. You see, whenever we Christians want to compare ourselves to others—whether we are talking about believers or unbelievers, we've missed the whole point. Because, when it comes to the Kingdom of God , there is only One figure alone Who is significant; and that is Jesus Christ.

There's Jesus Christ, and then there is everyone else, as far as God is concerned.

Let's consider some of the things that the Scripture has to say about everyone else. To begin, God's Word tells us, “There is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:22 -23). No distinction. There is no difference in the state of anyone in this whole world. Every single human being, except One, came into this world as a sinner. And, as such, fell short of the glory of God. To put it simply, all of us deserved eternal damnation. Black or white, Asian, Indian, or Hispanic, it doesn't matter. All of us were under God's judgment because none of us were without guilt.

But listen to what God did. “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly,” (Romans 5:6). Long before any of us were born or before any of us had been given the strength of faith, Christ died on the cross to forgive us all of our sins. And not just our sins — “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world,” ( 1 John 2:2). God considers your unbelieving neighbor just as cleansed as you are. Listen again: “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them,” (2 Cor. 5:19 ). God has forgiven all people through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.

It's like the laborers in the vineyard: before anyone ever had the chance to learn the rules of the game, to suggest some ways to fine-tune the plan, or even to learn what the Master of the vineyard had gotten them into, everything was already determined by the grace and generosity of the master. And the point of the parable is that the individual laborers had absolutely no influence upon the master.

But all too often, we think that we do—we think that God is favorably inclined toward us for one reason or the other. Maybe we think that it's because we are Christians while others are not. Or that we are zealous workers in the kingdom while others are more apathetic. But how can God look at us any differently, love us any more fervently, than He already loves the entire world for which He gave His only begotten Son?

And that's why, people, we do well to remember, for instance, that the Scriptures says that even our righteous deeds are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Or that Jesus tells us, “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty,' " (Luke 17:10 ). Or that it is our confession each Sunday that we are poor, miserable sinners who deserve nothing but temporal and eternal punishment. Or that, as the Fourth Petition of the Lord's Prayer puts it, “ God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.”

And along with that realization as to where our daily bread comes from, we also pray that God would lead us to realize where every other blessing in this life comes from. It comes by grace through Christ Jesus.

People, please listen carefully. There will be those in the vineyard who will grow weary of that message. Inwardly, they will grow tired and intolerant of hearing week after week of how we are such undeserving sinners and that Jesus Christ alone is all in all. They will be tempted to think more of themselves than they should. They will bide their remaining time in the vineyard, going through the motions of picking the fruit, without realizing the miraculous treasures that God is placing into their hands. And may God have mercy on their arrogant souls.

But for those who have a hard time believing that they could possibly be welcomed into the vineyard by the master, because they know their failings, their unworthiness, and the immoral behavior that has far outweighed the righteous deeds; for those who are overjoyed at having an eleventh hour opportunity to still be a part of the kingdom, know this—the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, made Himself your servant. He gave His life for you ! And it is for His sake and His sake alone that you can be there to collect on His most holy work when the day is over; because that's how God decided to do it—by His grace alone.

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