Equal to Us

"These men who were hired last worked only one hour," [the workers] said, "and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day."
- Matthew 20:12 (NIV)

IN Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard, laborers are employed at various times throughout the day, some even at the eleventh hour. When it is time for wages to be disbursed, they all get paid the same amount. This causes the longer-serving workers to complain.

Often my attention in this story is drawn to the last sentence spoken by Jesus: "So the last will be first, and the first will be last." However, what strikes me today are the words of the complaining workers: "You have made them equal to us."

We are all equal in God's sight. Yet there may well be times when we feel God has favored others over us. Others seem to prosper while we suffer. God appears to answer their prayers but keeps us waiting; or, worse, God gives us an answer we don't want. But at these times we can look beyond the immediate and see the bigger picture of what God wants - and in that big picture there are no losers. All who believe will receive the same reward, and all will get full measure. This excites me. There is no short measure with God. No one will miss out who sincerely receives Christ as Savior and follows him.


Prayer
Lord God, we pray for any who think they have been short-changed by you. Show them this is not so. May they reconnect with you in joyful response. Amen.



From: UpperRoom Devotionals - Peter Francis