A fair wage is the theme for our reflection. To be fair means to be impartial and just, without favouritism or discrimination. A wage is a fixed regular payment earned for work or services, typically paid on a daily or weekly basis. A fair wage in the context of our reflection is just payment received for work done or service rendered according to the contract between the worker and the employer. A worker goes into a contractual agreement to work for an employer and in return, the employer pays him or her a fair wage. In the parable of the labourers in the vineyard in Matthew 20:1-16, the workers who came earlier to work in the vineyard begrudged their employer or the owner of the vineyard for paying the same wage to both those who came first and last. The critical question for our consideration is, was the owner of the vineyard unfair to those who came earlier even after paying them their fair wage? In other words, did he not pay them according to their contractual agreement? Why then were they complaining about the equal wage given to both those who came earlier and later to work on the farm? This parable concerns God’s grace and our judgemental attitude and our covetousness towards our neighbours. The key lesson we need to learn from this parable concerning God’s fair wages is that we have been called and saved by grace therefore let us not begrudge God’s fair wages or generosity to others.
Beloved in the Lord, we shall recollect that it is the owner of the vineyard who went around calling people to come work in the farm. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. (Matthew 20:1). We must remember that we have not been called as a matter of right but we have been called by grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10). It is for this reason Paul confessed that “…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst. (1 Timothy 1:15). We never deserved to be called into His Kingdom neither did we deserve His fair wage of grace and salvation. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). If today, we have become beneficiaries of God’s grace, providence and blessings, who are we to question God on how he decides to make His wages of grace and blessings available to other? Some of us Christians are like the covetous and begrudging labourers who question God’s generosity or blessings in the lives of other people whom we think we are better than academically, economically and in terms of social status. Some of us begrudge God’s grace and blessings in the lives of others we think we deserve better than others. Some of us think that because we fast, pray, read the Bible always and give generously at Church so our blessings should be bigger and better than those whom we deem to be “unspiritual, latecomers, unfaithful, unholy or sinners in the church.
God, who is the farm owner poses the question, Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ (Matthew 20:15). Beloved in the Lord, let us focus on our relationship with God and do our best to serve Him faithfully. Let us not be judgemental and bitter about the progress of other people less we fall into the temptation of covetousness and also begrudging God’s generosity and grace in the lives of other people. In any case, has God not been gracious and faithful to us and our family in diverse ways? The chorus of the hymn “Count Your Blessings” invites and admonishes us to
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
Dear friend, God is fair in His distribution of His wages of grace. The fact that we do not have everything we ever wished or yearned for does not mean God is not fair in His dealings with us. Let us not see other people’s blessings and begin to question God’s generosity and faithfulness to us. It is an act of ungratefulness to God. Remember, we never deserved what we have now, it is by grace for “…godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (1 Timothy 6:6-7) Let us focus on our salvation and do our best to please God with our lives. Our aim or goal is to attain eternal life which is the most desirable fair wage for our stewardship on earth. It is, for this reason, Paul admonishes us, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13)
In summary, we have reflected on the theme “A fair wage”. We have learned that we have been called and saved by grace, therefore, let us not begrudge God’s fair wages in the form of His grace, blessings, providence, salvation and generosity to others.
PRAYER
1. Let us pray to overcome the spirit of covetousness in our lives.
2. Let us pray for the spirit of contentment and the desire to please God by serving Him faithfully without begrudging His grace and blessing in the lives of others.
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus, we pray that we shall be found worthy of Your Kingdom and eternal life when You return to give us our eternal fair wages. Amen
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