Read Matthew 20:1-16
Well That’s Not Fair!!! š
Jesus told a parable of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. He compares it to a landowner who went out to hire laborers for his vineyard. The first group of laborers came to an agreement to be paid one denarius, meaning one day’s wage. They were to work 12 hours.
But the landowner still wanted more laborers so he went out at 9:00 a.m., noon, 3:00 p.m., 5 p.m. and even the last hour in order to hire more laborers. They never agreed on a price. He just told them to go and work, and he would pay them what is fair. So after the 12th hour, the laborers were called to be paid their wages, starting with those who worked the shortest amount of time. The landowner gave everybody a denarius. So when it came time to pay those who worked 12 hours, these laborers expected more since they worked harder and longer. But the landowner gave them what they agreed upon. The laborers complained to the land owner but the landowner said, I have done no wrong for I have paid you exactly what we agreed upon. He told them not to be envious of others because of his generosity.
To be envious is to desire or covet what someone else has or has received. To be envious is to be ungrateful. An envious person is never content with what they have. Life is unfair to them. They see themselves working hard in life, not able to go on nice vacations, and always talking about their neighbor who goes on three vacations a year.
We should thank God for his grace that he bestows upon even the worst of the worst sinners. Let’s be thankful for the blessings God bestows upon others even if we think we deserve more. Be thankful for what you have. Be thankful for the blessings God gives to others. Be thankful for his saving Grace, even for the least of these.
What are things that you are envious of?
Learn to be thankful to God for what you do have rather than complaining about what you don’t have. If we could learn that lesson, we could learn to be content and live with the joy of the Lord rather than with a bitter heart.
