That’s Not Fair

That’s Not Fair

Matthew 20:1-16

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost ~ September 21, 2008

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ – “That’s not fair!” Have you heard that statement before? Having children in my home I have heard it many times. “That’s not fair that she gets to stay up later than me!” “That’s not fair that he got that toy and I didn’t!” “That’s not fair that she got to go to the party and I didn’t!” If you have or have had children you have heard these and many more statements about fairness.

But we as adults have out grown this, right!? “Why did he get a raise and I didn’t since I do just as much work as he does?” “How can they afford that boat when I can’t make ends meet?” “I deserve to have the same health coverage my Senator has!” We may use a little different language, but it is still the same – “That’s not fair!”

Isn’t that what is going on in our text today? Jesus tells this parable of people who are hired to work in a man’s vineyard. Some work all day, some half the day, and some for only and hour. And yet they all get paid the same? That’s not fair. Call in the local Labor Union, let’s get this straightened out! Right! But why is Jesus using this story? Something doesn’t seem right. What is the point of this parable?

First, we need to remember that a parable was a story told to highlight one aspect of the Kingdom of God or Heaven and usually the parable would draw you in by something “extreme” or “unusual” happening. We have that here! This seems like an unfair situation – it gets us thinking and draws us in as we ask – “What is going one here?”

With that in mind let’s look at a few parts of this parable. The “reward” or pay for the day’s work – what does that represent in God’s Kingdom? Well it represents our eternal reward. At the end of the day – the end of our life – everyone who believes in Jesus will get the “reward” of eternal life. It is a tremendous gift that is the same for all! You really can’t top this reward.

So, what about the workers and the ones who grumble and complain? Here is another reality that Jesus is telling to us – some come to Christ early in life and others come to Christ later in life, even up to the final moments of life. Many of us can trace our Christian lineage back to Europe and many generations back. Some of us Christianity is all new and has only been part of our recent “history.” And still others may not come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior until the final moments of their life. But in the end, the reward for those who believe is the same – eternal life.

How can we grumble and complain about this reward? Well we do. Our sinful selves tend to be irrational in how we react to the world and those who come to faith later in life. We who have been in the church, believers in Jesus, for all of our lives complain about those who are new Christians – “That’s not fair!” That is our sinful side coming out – we are like the workers who have worked all day and grumble that the “wage” is unfair.

The problem with “fairness” is that it often draws us inward. What happens if we focus on our “rights” or what we deserve. How does this play out in the church? Think about these statements – “I don’t like the color of the carpet in the sanctuary and it distracts me from worshipping well.” “The music that we sing doesn’t work for me, it keeps me from really enjoying worship.” “I don’t like the time of a Bible Study. If they want me to come they need to change the time.” These are all inward focus and in the end it focuses on what we deserve and not on what God gives to us as a gift – eternal life.

Here is the challenge for us – The church is not for us! Yes, you heard me. The church is not for us – it is for those who the Bible calls, “lost.” Didn’t we just hear in a parable that the Kingdom of God is about seeking and saving the lost? That is the mission of God, who is our head, and therefore is our mission. The church’s number one goal is to bring others to Jesus! Now don’t get me wrong – I am not saying that we shouldn’t focus on our own spiritual lives, that we shouldn’t build each other up in the church and show love to each other – but that is second to the main mission – seeking and saving the lost! When we become too focused on ourselves that is when we start to sound like the workers in the parable who grumble and complain. But when we focus outside this church, these four walls – when we focus on those who don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, our whole attitude changes. Instead of fighting over the color of the carpet we focus on who can we make visitor’s welcome. We change from self-righteous guests to caring, other’s focused hosts. Again, this church is not for you – it for those who haven’t heard about Jesus. We are hosts they are the guests.

And why would we complain about our “reward” – it is the best one ever – eternal life. It is secure because of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. We don’t need to worry about our reward – it is eternal life! But what about those who are not with us, who don’t know Jesus? Their “reward is hell! Wow, that should drive us to our knees in prayer for strength to move from inward focus to outward focus. We need to find every avenue we can to seek and save the lost.

And we don’t have to go far at all – just across the street. I heard this weekend that only about 18% of people in America go to church (it is even less in Colorado). That means that just across the street from our church building there are those who don’t know about Jesus. Right here, right now, we need to become hosts and invite more guests – we need to keep the main thing the main thing – sharing the reward we have in Jesus with others.

Our mission statement can be a guide for us to focus outward and not inward. Reach out – we need to find ways to build relationships with our community. We need to find ways for every event or activity we do to be an opportunity to reach out to the people of Aurora. Care for – instead of just focus on our “self-care” we need to care for others, to shine the love of Christ in our words and actions to the community. We have the power of the Gospel to transform our community! And we need to build up others with the Word of God, the very Word that transformed our lives can transform the lives of others – but they need to hear it, and hear it from us! Reach, Care, Build for the kingdom of God. Focus on those who don’t know Jesus, who will not be receiving the reward of eternal life because they don’t know Jesus. Our number one mission is to tell others about Jesus in our words and actions.

One more thing for us to think about – God’s reward isn’t fair and thanks be to God it isn’t. What do you mean Pastor? Well, in our sin we deserve eternal damnation – we deserve hell! But God, in His love and mercy, did the unfair thing – He died for us and rose again to transform us sinners in to His children. I am glad God was “unfair” for our sake. And if He did that for us (and the world) can’t we put aside our selfish side for a moment and focus on how we can help others, who are dying, to receive life in Jesus? We can – through the power of the Holy Spirit, who calls us to spread the message of Jesus and be His kingdom who seeks and saves the lost.

Amen