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[Jesus said,] “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’” (Matthew 20:1-15)
I can understand why the first set of laborers were so grouchy. It’s because at the end of the day, they realized that their work had absolutely nothing to do with the denarius they received. The owner was giving his money away for free to anyone who showed up that day—there was no longer any connection between work and wages.
It’s a pretty good picture of what God does with us, too, isn’t it? Some start serving God as children and continue through a long life. Others trust in Jesus at the last minute before they die, and never serve at all. And both are saved.
That makes some people angry. They say, “I’ve been working for nothing.” But others say something different. They say, “I’ve been working for love.” Because if Jesus guarantees your salvation at the end of your life, that’s wonderful! How could you not love such a generous Lord?
But the grapes do still need to be picked. God’s work in the world needs hands! And so you put in the service hours, not because you have to, but because you love your master—the generous God who loved us enough to suffer, die, and rise again just to make you His own. You are working for love.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, thank You for saving me and making me Your own. I’m glad to serve You for love. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
- Why do you think the owner went out looking for more workers so many times? Is God similarly urgent, and if so, why?
- The workers who weren’t hired till the end—why do you think nobody hired them? Why did this man hire them? Does God call similar people into His service?
- Since Jesus is going to save you regardless of your work, how do you feel about that work now? Does it feel like a waste of time, or is it something you do for love?
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