Matthew 20:1-16 NIV “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.  He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.  He told them, “You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.  So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.  About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around.  He asked them, “Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?” Because no one has hired us, they answered.  He said to them, “You also go and work in my vineyard.” 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 the eleventh hour came and 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 men who were hired last only worked one hour,” they said, “and you have made them equal to us who have born the burden of the work and the heat of the day.” But he answered one of them, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you.  Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  Take your pay and go.  I want to give the man 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.So, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

My fourth-grade teacher, the beloved Mrs. O’Rear, always said – “Keep your eyes on your own paper.”  I think that is one lesson Jesus is emphasizing in our scripture today.  Jesus also told his disciples and us not to judge others – warning that the measure we use to judge others is the same size measure that will be used on us – be it a teaspoon or a gallon!

It can be tempting to compare ourselves to others; creating a checklist of all the work we’ve done for God – all the hours we’ve put in with God – being reverent, worshipping, volunteering, reading the Bible and praying.  With my checklist I can compare my righteousness to that big sinner, that lost sheep, that late comer who doesn’t even have a week of work for God.  Surely, I’ll have many more stars in my crown, a whiter robe, and bigger wings than that one!  I’ve been here working hard for a long, long time.  Don’t I deserve more?

Jesus says in Luke 15:7 – There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons with no repentance.

 I think Jesus and Mrs. O’Rear are telling us the same thing… Celebrate with heaven every time a lost sheep is found and earns their reward.”  Welcome them home!  And keep your eyes on your own paper!

Let’s pray

Dear Lord, Help me to love more generously, to forgive as much as I wish to be forgiven, and to celebrate with Heaven over every new worker, no matter what time they show up to work!  In Jesus’ name - Amen

Today’s devotional was written and read by Bernice Howard.

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