For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more: and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Matthew, Chapter 20, verses 1-16.
I’m ashamed to say that I relate all too well with the first laborers who wanted more than what was promised for their extra time and effort. If I’m truly being honest, there have been times where I expected preferential treatment because I tried to be good and follow all the rules. I have deliberately flaunted the good choices I have made in hopes that teachers, employers and family members would like me better than others.
Well, it may have possibly worked since the people mentioned are human beings who could not see my ulterior motives, but God doesn’t get suckered into struggles for attention. He loves us all the way we are. So the prostitute, the rock star, the janitor, the prisoner, the president, the drug addict, the school teacher and anyone else who loves Jesus as their Savior can go to heaven. There is no preferential treatment there!
Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage. Debbie
