God's Fairness

8“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ (Matthew 20:8) 

Thoughts: Jesus was thoughtful in how he told this story. He is a master story-teller.  The owner of the vineyard requests that the last be paid first.  This is symbolic and also a teaching tool.  It teaches us the last shall be first- which is a great principle of humility being exalted, and the people who have little hope being given much hope.  But it also is a teaching tool for the first.  We might say that the first should be paid first.  They have waited a long time.  If the first had been paid first there is no problem.  They don't see what the others get because they will leave when they get paid.  They will be paid according to what they agreed to work for.  It is not that the owner (symbol of God) is not fair.  The owner wanted to be transparent and not hide anything- even if he is accused of being unfair.
      Our sense of fairness is the over-riding issue for us.  It is particularly an issue for our day.  We believe we are the judge and we know best- even though we don't have all the information- only God has that- and only He is the best, most patient, most fair judge. We want what we think is best for us, and we often feel it is our RIGHT to judge God.  Certainly we are free to do so, but to do so would be at our own peril.  Yes peril.  When we judge God we are going against reality (kicking against the goads- as Jesus described it to Paul).  When we judge God, we are actually elevating ourselves above God- which is a false illusion (that was the illusion of Satan described in Isaiah- 14:12-14- "I will raise my throne above the Almighty.").  We will not change reality, we just make ourselves more and more discontent and miserable.  There is no peace for those who think they know better than God. I would also say that there is little peace for those who cannot find peace in listening to God and His Word.  God is THE FAIR one- who knows each circumstance, and judges both with love, patience, generosity, mercy as well as holiness and righteousness.  To say we can judge God's decisions would be to elevate ourselves to a place from which we are sure to fall and lack true peace.  

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to listen to your justice and fairness.  Help me to be fair to others, but also true to you.