Is God unfair?
Jesus tells a parable about the nature of the Reign of God. Jesus told the story about an estate manager who went out early in the morning and hired a group of day laborers. Later about noon and then a couple of hours before quitting time he hired two other groups of workers. At the end of the day when the money was distributed he instructed the newest workers to be paid first and then move backwards till the first group had received their wages. He paid each group the same day wages that were agreed upon at the time of employment. This excited the ones who only worked a short time and angered the ones who have spent long hours in the sun. The landowner countered that he had done nothing insulting. The wages were exactly what was fair and why should you begrude generosity. (For the full story go to Matthew 20:1-16)
I had an adult class that would plunge into fits of anger at this passage. It’s not fair, they would bellow, that a person who lives a secular life could late in their life, maybe on their deathbed, accept Jesus and receive all the benefits of salvation. Their reasoning couldn’t see any benefit to a life of discipleship as opposed to a life of greed, sin, and self-absorption. Why is it fair, they would argue, that someone could have “fun” all their life and then get to have eternity, while the person who had accepted Christ earlier, had to live a life burdened by rules, regulations, and discipline.
These last workers put in only one hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun (20:14 Message)
So what was behind this rage? The idea that followers of Christ have no enjoyment in this lifetime? It is that discipleship is all about heaven and not about a quality life in this world?
I know I have felt the same understanding, but this verse is not about salvation as much as it is about the Reign of God. It is not simply about getting to heaven as it is about living a life here and now in the grace of God.
After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.” Mark 1;14-15 Message.
It is similar to the complaint of the older brother in the Prodigal Son story: It’s not fair that I’ve faithfully worked long and hard for you and what have I ever received in recognition?
Brent Driggers, Associate Professor of New Testament at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, makes an important distinction. He notes that “Jesus’ parable is not about a landowner looking for help from others as much as it’s about a landowner who helps others. More to the point: it’s about a landowner who sweeps up idle (and therefore lost) people and gives them a purpose.
Indeed, given that this is a parable about Jesus’ kingdom, what we’re talking about here is the purpose we’ve been looking for, or avoiding, all along: God’s purpose for us.”
Okay, but what about the “fairness” issue? Rev. Todd Weir I think gets to the heart of the matter. He writes: But, what about those ever important incentives to do good works? Why do good if God accepts us already? Why not relax? When we say that salvation is by grace and not good works, the motivation changes from geting a reward to doing things out of love and compassion. Good works are not done to earn something, but as an act of gratitude. God has done all for us, so why not do gor others in the same spirit of generosity? This truly frees us. When we are working for a reward, we are always wondering if we are good enough, looking for clues to see if God accepts us, looking for human approval and praise when we can’t hear from God. We are perpetually trapped. But when we do good works out of thanksgiving, for the sheer love of doing it for someone, we are free. We already know we are accepted by God. We don’t have any reason to feel taken for granted, resentful or self-righteous. Better to do one act out of love and gratitude to God than to do three good deeds with grim striving for God’s approval.
So, so we view our participation in God’s reign as a gift from God or as a benefit to God, as the joyful fulfillment of our created purpose, or as the mere endurance of scorching heat?
As always, I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday.
Pastor David