When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ 

                                                                                                           Matthew 20:10-12

Today: Read Matthew 20

I would like to say that I have never had this attitude before…but I have. I would like to say that I have never seen this attitude demonstrated in the lives of other Christians…but again, I have. It’s the attitude of anger, resentment, and bitterness over the kindness of God. But why do Christian people get angry over God’s goodness and love toward others? Why does the church stand in judgment of the lost instead of reaching out with healing hands and voices? And why do Christians resent others, being envious of God’s blessings toward those individuals? What does the Bible say about this attitude and how do we guard against developing it?

First, we need to take a biblical look at this attitude. Secondly, we can use scripture to restructure our thinking so that the love of Jesus can freely flow out of our lives, making us more effective in representing a loving God.

Today’s passage is a parable about the impartiality of God. It deals with the anger that can arise as a result of claiming spiritual privilege. In this parable there are workers in the field. The landowner has made a promise to pay everyone working in the field a wage. Some of the workers came in to work at the third hour, some the sixth hour, and some the ninth. There were also some workers that did not show up until the eleventh hour. At the end of the day, the workers are called in to receive their wage. Consider the following:

When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.

                                                                                                           Matthew 20:9-10

Can you guess what’s going to happen next? If you guessed that someone’s going to get upset, you’re exactly right. Consider the next passage:

When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’

                                                                                                        Matthew 20:11-12

Don’t miss the point that Jesus is making. All of the workers were given the same wage because that was the arrangement that the landowner had made with the workers. To illustrate this arrangement, consider the following passages:

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned…                                                                                    

                                                                                                             John 3:17-18a  

Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.                                                                       

                                                                             Romans 10:13

Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

                                                                                                              Acts 16:30b-31 

…nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law , since by works of the Law, no flesh will be justified.

                                                                                                                   Galatians 2:16

The workers were all paid the same because they had all worked in the field. The amount of time spent in the field was irrelevant because God had arranged for the same wage to be paid to all of the workers. Jesus died for our sins and everyone who calls on His name will be saved. Likewise, everyone who believes (trusts) in Him will inherit eternal life.

The workers grumbled because they felt more entitled than the other workers. Why? It is because they had spent more time working in the field. Consider their argument:

“These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden…”

                                                                                                                 Matthew 20:12

It is a real danger for those, particularly in vocational ministry, to be deceived into believing that because others around them are not “bearing the burden” the way they are, that those individuals are either not saved or do not deserve the same wage as they. The above passages speak volumes against that line of thinking. Salvation is not and never has been about human performance as a believer. Salvation comes when we trust in Jesus. Consider the following:

Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

                                                                                                               Romans 4:4-5  

The workers grumbled, but not rightly so. When Christians exhibit this attitude, they are at fault for placing their value above others. It is our faith that allows us to be declared righteous, not our works.

So how do we guard against these attitudes? Keeping these three biblical truths always before us will go a long way in eliminating this misguided attitude:

(1) Understand that everyone is equally in need of a Savior (James 2:10).

(2) Understand that there is no boasting in righteousness because it has been given to               us as a gift (Romans 3:27-28).

(3) Understand that you are to value others above yourself, not the other way around (Philippians 2:3-4).

Applying these principles to our lives will help guard against spiritual arrogance. If the workers in the field, had valued the lives of their fellow workers above themselves, they would not have been so preoccupied with their own work nor become frustrated by the lack of “work” coming from the others. This self-centered attitude does not belong in the church; it never has and it never will. The challenge for each of us is to jettison this attitude from our life, leaving room to develop a more Christ-like approach in our treatment of others. Then and only then will the character and nature of God be more accurately displayed to a watching world.