Week 25 – When Life Seems Unfair

When Life Seems Unfair

Matthew 20:1-19

Have you ever felt like life isn’t always fair? Or, if we’re honest, dare we admit it, we feel God is not always fair? We can work hard and do what we are required to do, yet there doesn’t seem to be a direct correlation between what we put in and what we get out. It can be your marriage, your career, raising children, or your health. You could have worked hard in honoring God in your singleness or in your ministry. You did what was required of you and went above and beyond, yet what was waiting on the other side did not seem, well, fair. Have you been there? I definitely have, and more times than I’d like to admit!

Jesus shows the heart of God in Matthew 20:1-16, where a master hires workers for his vineyard at different times throughout the day, from early morning to late afternoon. He agrees to pay the workers who are hired first (the ones working the longest) one denarius for the entire day. They accept the pay, thinking it’s fair. The master then hires more workers at the third, sixth, ninth, and almost quitting time, the eleventh hour. At the end of the day, he pays all the workers one denarius. WHAT!! Of course, the workers who worked the last shift are happy, but those who worked longer hours, especially the first ones, feel cheated. Wouldn’t you? I know I would. But let’s look at it from God’s point of view.

God, depicted as the master in this parable, owed nothing to any of the workers. He went out, sought them, and made an offer, which they accepted. They were happy and satisfied with their payment until they saw that other workers were compensated the same for less work. Instead of rejoicing that the master blessed others who were standing around doing nothing, just as they did before being chosen, they grumbled at the “unfair” compensation they received, even though they had happily agreed to it. The master’s response is simple: “…I choose to give to this last worker as I gave to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matthew 20:14, ESV) Ouch!! That hits home.  

God is generous, gracious, and kind. When we feel slighted by Him, we are not seeing God accurately. When we covet what He has blessed someone else with, we are not seeing God accurately. When we complain about what He has or hasn’t given us, we are not seeing God accurately. If ever we feel any sense of injustice regarding God’s blessings or their absence, we are not seeing God accurately. This means we are out of alignment, not God. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) and distributes His resources as He sees fit and in whatever measure He chooses. 

Our posture should be one of gratitude for how God is blessing us and rejoicing in how He’s blessing others. When we reflect on the grace of God (His unmerited favor), there is no room for grumbling. We all deserve nothing, yet we receive so much.

My friend, let us keep our eyes fixed on God and His goodness toward us. They are plentiful because He is gracious.