Something Jesus says in Matthew 20 in the parable of the workers in the vineyard turned on a light bulb over my head. To recap, an owner found some guys to work in his vineyard early in the morning and everyone agreed they’d get a buck for their work at the end of the day. In the afternoon, he went out again and got some more workers, also agreeing to pay them a buck. When there was only an hour or two of day left, he found some more, and once more everyone agreed they’d get a greenback for their work. When it came time to pay, he paid the most recent workers first, and by the time he got to the ones who had been there the longest, they were certain they’d get more than their dollar, but that’s what they agreed on so that’s what they got. They weren’t happy. The lord said to his workers “Didn’t we agree on a wage before you started working, or are you envious because I am good?”
It makes me wonder how often I use the scale of someone else’s life to judge God’s fairness in my own. It’s not fair that so many kids I know way younger than me can be married already. It’s not fair that God lets some people stay in their birthplaces their whole lives and I have to move. It’s not fair that others don’t have as much responsibility as I do in, and out of, the church. I ask me this: “Says who?”
God’s made a “deal” with each one of us based on 1) what He wants to do with our lives, and 2) how He’s created us to be able to do it. I’m sure the people who worked half a day were upset too, until they realized that they made more for the work they did than the ones who worked all day. There is always more than one way to look at things. I choose to look at the trust God placed in me instead of the stuff I wish I had/could do instead.
-j
ps> This is a new concept to me. Please to have patience.
I'm Jason, and I like to write.