“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 NIV).
The parable of the workers in the vineyard, found in Matthew 20:1-16, presents to us the nature of God’s kingdom and His grace. God offers us salvation and calls us into His kingdom, and as we respond to His invitation, we are saved to serve. No matter when we become part of God’s kingdom, there are always works to be done. Recruitment into God’s vineyard is a continuous process, and there is a reward for each of us.
Recognize that salvation and blessings are gifts from God, not rewards for our efforts. Avoid comparison and focus on your relationship with God rather than comparing your journey with others. Celebrate other people’s blessings by rejoicing in the blessings and grace they receive. Know that God’s grace and generosity are not based on human standards of fairness or merit. Instead, they are given freely to all who come to Him, regardless of when they come or how much they have done.
