Friday, January 27

Unfair generosity

Scripture: Matthew 20

Matthew 20:13–16 And the landowner replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me to work for the standard wage?14 Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last man the same as I gave to you. 15 Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Observation

This story—the workers in the vineyard—is one of my favorites. When you hear it, you want to protest like the early workers: “Unfair.” And it is. Most of us would agree that it is unfair to pay people the same wage regardless of hours and effort expended. Generally, we’d say that someone who works 12 hours deserves 12 times more than someone who works one hour. To pay them the same is unfair to the 12-hour man.

Or…it is extremely generous to the 1-hour man.

It depends on your perspective.

Jesus introduced the story by saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like…”. God’s kingdom runs on a different economy. Generosity trumps fairness. Grace eclipses justice. The first will be last and the last will be first. God’s grace is so extravagant that it will elicit protests!

And as someone desperately in need of grace…I’m grateful.

Application

I have a strong sense of right and wrong. I can be judgmental. I can see injustice and cry “unfair.” And, don’t get me wrong, injustice ought to be corrected. We all love fairness. 

The good news is that God is generous to the point of being unfair! He offers unfair generosity—undeserved generosity; extravagant grace. I need to remember that in all my interactions with others. 

Be generous. Be gracious. Assume the best, not the worst. Make positive rather than negative attributions. Take the high road. Give more than is deserved. Offer unfair generosity. 

 

Prayer: I love you Jesus. I know that I’ll have opportunities today to practice unfair generosity. Help me Lord to overcome my judgmental bent to fairness, and be wildly generous like you.