In many a community across nations, certain families stand out for their mastery on specific skills like politics, education, industry, religion, etc. Some names are synonymous with the disciplines they’ve perfected over the ages. The very mention of certain names evokes instant recognition of the social classes to which they belong. It’s their identity. If you are born into one of those clans and you don’t rise to prominence, you are as good as cursed. Individual achievement is not just desired, it’s the birth certificate of your DNA, without which you have nothing to disprove your illegitimate origins.
A visit to an Asian City some years back jolted my psyche to that reality for the first time. I don’t mean that’s when I became aware of it, but life has a way of rousing us from the stupor of indifference by the simplest of things. For me, it was a newspaper. Presented with several copies from different publishing houses every morning, I quickly noticed the vast spaces allocated to nuptial ads. That was odd to me, coming from a nation whose peoples didn’t seek love from total strangers via print ads. What jolted me was the qualifications marriage seekers advertised of themselves and from their prospective suitors. They advertised their age, their good looks, their education, family nobility, wealth, etc. Applications were not welcome from folks who didn’t meet credentials of similar nature. What I didn’t see highlighted were values such as love, loyalty, compassion, integrity, patience, or the like. Sadly, many who marry under such terms soon realize the glamour they fell for was nothing but a lifelong debt, a debt they must pay back with endless tears of deep regret.
That’s not our subject here, but it’s a fitting prelude for the point we wish to make.
Parable of a Workday at a Vineyard
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 “Then he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did likewise. 6 “About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7 “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ (Matt 20:1-7 ~MEV)
At dusk, the landowner paid a denarius each to all the workers regardless of the time they joined in, starting with those who came last. That infuriated those who had worked all day, and they grumbled about it. You can read the rest of the account for yourself. Here, however, we can readily see that the landowner and the initial batch of farmhands settled for a denarius. He didn’t negotiate wages with any other batch because that was already covered by the initial agreement. We don’t have enough information to judge why he paid everyone the same amount. But the fact that the landowner hired more workers one hour before sunset and paid everyone equal wages contrasts his mindset against that of his laborers.
Qualifications or Lack of Them
The conversation the landowner had with the last batch he hired at the marketplace is interesting. Let’s review it: ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us’. Each of those men started their day looking for a chance to exploit their talents and make money. They woke up and headed for the marketplace believing they’d be fortunate. Depending on where they stood, they were either spotted or missed by bosses looking to hire. The landowner in our story kept going back hoping to find more workers, and every time he got a few. The last batch of workers was discovered towards end of day. They must have been greatly frustrated and discouraged. They were about to return home empty handed, their daylong hope dashed. Asked why they stood idly all day, they said, “Nobody gave us a chance!” Isn’t that sad? It’s like meeting your alumna decades after college and they’ve never found a job yet!
Have you ever been there? You did everything you know to do; you studied as hard as anyone, sometimes harder than those who found opportunities. You did all you could to make yourself a suitable candidate for the breakthroughs people dream about. But when all was said and done, you were sixpence none the richer! Nobody hired you; nobody gave you the chance you longed for.
You see, that’s a strange concept to the first category of folks we talked about. They are born to privilege. Life is already organized for them before they arrive into this world. As the American adage puts it, “they have it made.” Those are the folks who arrived at dawn. They are the ones the landowner offered opportunity before anyone else. They didn’t have to stand in the heat of day hoping and praying and waiting. They didn’t have to brave the shame of standing helplessly in the marketplace, exhibiting their unmet needs to passersby. For that, they’ve adopted a mean-spirited attitude as rigid as cast iron. They can’t relate to anyone who is forced to scale insurmountable odds. At the master’s payment desk, they were all out of shape charging that their master’s mercy toward fellow colleagues was undeserved! Whoever heard of deserved mercy?
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more, but each of them likewise received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us, who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’
Who did those ungrateful workers complain about? The landowner who gave them opportunity in the first place, a chance that others could only hope for! “YOU equated them to us!” You don’t recognize our superiority. We worked hard all day! We did more! We don’t belong in that group of losers. You are an unfair master. You don’t deserve us for your workers. We deserve better!
Late Comers in the Game of Life
As a Christian, I constantly count my blessings in knowing the Way of salvation. I don’t have any notable background to count on. In the western world, for instance, it’s not uncommon to find revered families whose service in military, government, commerce or religious enterprise dates back centuries. I thank God for them; their dedication preserves precious treasures. But if you compared yourself to them you’d very easily feel insignificant. Arriving in the Kingdom of God late, disorderly, and having much to be ashamed of, you’d rightfully feel worthless.
This word is for your encouragement.
Did you notice the landowner did not speak down at the poor men he found standing in the marketplace all day? He didn’t fault-find. He didn’t lecture them. Instead, he was moved with compassion and sent them to join his other workers. His compassion compensated for their delayed expectation. That Landowner is God! He is good, merciful and tender.
God knows you. God cares about you. Don’t look down on yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others, and don’t engage in pity parties. God, who brought you in, knows why you arrived late. In the time you have, do your best to return the Master’s kindness. Keep your eyes on the task before you counting on His grace and not your ability. Remember, you have nothing to brag about except the undeserved mercies of God. Your best efforts cannot achieve anything worthwhile. Jesus already told you, “…without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5