‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ Matthew 20:12-15

Children are really good at pointing out inconsistencies. If one child gets a bigger piece of cake at a birthday party or an extra gummy bear, they will speak up quickly. If they notice that their sibling received more time in a fun activity, or that a Christmas gift seems to be bigger than what they have been given, they’ll speak up then, too. Children are really good at pointing out inconsistencies…when they may benefit from the attention.

As adults, we learn not to be so obvious about our selfishness. We may still think the same thought as the toddler, but we won’t admit it out loud. We notice when a promotion is given that we thought should be ours, or when the boss laughs at the other guy’s joke instead of ours. We notice when we work hard and no one pats us on the back for it, and when any of our efforts seem to go unrecognized.

But Jesus reminds us here in Matthew 20 that our idea of ‘fair’ and our expectations of that idea don’t get to dictate what actually happens. The vineyard owner in the parable decides to be generous and pay all his workers the same amount across the board, no matter the amount of time they put in working. We would probably all notice this at our places of work if we all were handed our pay in an obvious way like this at the end of the day. The first shift guys don’t appreciate the last shift guys getting paid the same, but what they aren’t thinking about is that the owner of ex he vineyard just wanted his vineyard tended. The issue is that the issue wasn’t about them, it was about the work being done, and the owner was generous in his esteem of all those who worked to see it accomplished. He pulled in more and more workers because he wanted to see his vineyard flourish, the payment came in response to that desire, and so it was a generous payment.

As we all work for the Kingdom of God, we will find that there are a few people who get their name in lights and on book covers and interviewed by pundits when relevant news situations occur. And then there are others who are not near as famous, but still have some degree of recognition for their efforts. And then there are some more who are visible, mostly unknown though, and then more still who work and strive and serve in the Kingdom and never seem to be recognized for their work. Some serve in easy situations, and still others struggle and will die for their faith.

And we are all equally saved by grace and promised to be heirs with Christ in His Kingdom. We all receive eternity and are forgiven of sin. We all are listed in the Lamb’s book of life and are counted among the redeemed. We all serve the same faithful Master who has promised our wages and paid our debts. And if one of us should strive our whole life in hard work for the Kingdom, and another should find grace as they lay dying, never having lifted a finger, we are all equally rewarded by our generous Lord.

Because really, the work isn’t about us. The efforts are not about what we can do. No. The whole affair, every last bit of it is all about the Master and the glory He is worthy to receive. So, keep your eyes off of your paycheck or your supposed position within the body. None of us should strive for personal glory, but rather for the glory of the One who saves us. And if we are commissioned to GoLove for His sake in obscurity, or to be made to stand before all mankind as witnesses, we still go and do it in His love so that others may find the joy we have in Him.