The Generosity Of The King

Read: Matthew 20:1-16

The Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. Matthew 20:1

IN WORD

A landowner hired day laborers for his vineyard and agreed with them on their wages. But late in the day, he needed more workers and hired whoever was available near the end of the shift. When it came time to pay, every worker received the same wages, whether he had come early or late in the day. And those who had come early were outraged. The owner had to remind them that he paid them exactly what he had promised.

The Kingdom is like that. The owner of the universe can make everyone equal if He wants. It isn’t unfair to promise us something and fulfill it. It may look unfair if we compare ourselves to others, but only if we’re operating with a sense of entitlement and working as though we’re earning something. But if we truly serve Him out of gratitude, then we will be grateful with the rewards of our service, regardless of what anyone else receives. “That’s not fair” is a very unbecoming claim for a citizen of the Kingdom.

Not everyone enters the Kingdom at the same time or in the same way. Some people are born of the Spirit when they are young, others just moments before they die. Though more time in the Kingdom during this age allows us to bear more fruit, it doesn’t give us a greater degree of salvation. God is generous to all, even when we feel that we deserve more of His generosity. He loves to lavish His blessings on those who aren’t worthy of them. And it helps to remember that we fit that description.

IN DEED

Remember that in God’s eyes, we are all varying shades of “unworthy,” yet He graciously makes us worthy by placing us in Christ. Any comparison with other human beings is, from a heavenly perspective, petty quibbling. Why bother? He has already promised us a comprehensive inheritance and every spiritual blessing from His realm. What more could we want? The wealth of the Kingdom belongs to the children of the King. All of us.

ADDITIONAL READING: James 1:17

The Christian life starts with grace, it must continue with grace, it ends with grace.

MARTYN LLOYD-JONES