Made Equal to Us
““When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 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?’””
— Matthew 20:8-15 (NIV)
Many churches read this story today. When evening comes, the vineyard owner has the workers paid, starting with those hired last. They worked about an hour, and each one gets a denarius, a full day's wage. The men hired first expect more, but they also get one denarius each. They grumble that he has made the latecomers equal to them, and he does not deny that they worked longer. He answers one of them that he is not being unfair, because they agreed on a denarius. What he gives the last man is his own to give. Then he asks if the man is envious because he is generous. Nothing was taken from the first workers, and their complaint grows out of comparing themselves with the last. Jesus opens this story with the kingdom of heaven, so the owner most likely stands for God. If so, God's goodness to one person takes nothing from another.
It hurts when someone gets the same thing you worked much longer for. Maybe someone hired after you gets the same promotion you got. Maybe a colleague joins the project near the end and gets the same award you do. Nothing is taken from you, and still it feels like a loss. Your effort was real, and nobody says otherwise. Then the congratulations stick in your throat, and you act as if nothing happened. Inside, you quietly hold it against your boss, or even against God.
Congratulate Them, No Buts
- 1Today, by message or face to face, congratulate one person who got the same as you, though they put in less time. If there is nothing recent, pick someone from the past few months. Keep it to one or two sentences, with no "but", no comparison, and nothing about how long it took you. For example: "Congratulations on the project award. It was good working with you." You do not have to feel glad to do it.
God, it is hard for me when someone gets the same good thing I worked longer for. Sometimes I say nothing, and inside I hold it against You for being good to them. You have not taken anything away from me. Help me congratulate one person today, even if I do not feel glad yet. Teach me to be glad about the good You give other people. Amen.
Today I will congratulate someone who got the same as me for less work.
Was the owner unfair to the first workers?
No. They got the denarius they agreed to that morning. He does not deny they worked longer, but what he gives the last workers comes from his own money.
How much was a denarius?
It was the usual pay for a full day's work. It is the wage the owner agreed on with the first workers when he hired them.
What does "envious because I am generous" mean?
The owner asks whether the worker resents him for being good to others. Nothing was taken from that worker, so what hurts him is the comparison.