At five o’clock in the evening (the eleventh hour), he went once more to the marketplace and found still others that were standing idly the whole day. They informed him that no one had hired them; therefore, he sent them into his vineyard to work yet without a specified salary. They, too, would work by faith! They must depend on the “word” of the owner.

When the day was done, the owner doled out equal payment to all the workers, beginning with the last person hired. “Pay them their hire” (Matthew 20:8). Of course, the workers who toiled the whole day complained. Yet the owner challenged them to acknowledge their agreement to the assigned wages. He had done nothing wrong. May he not do with his own resources what he determined or desired? Why were they jealous (have an evil eye) because he was so generous? Worthiness is not measured by works or wages. Worthiness is determined by willingness.

The vineyard is the kingdom of heaven. The owner (householder) is Christ. The laborers are His followers. In that kingdom, many that are last shall be first and many that are first shall be last. Work done for Christ is judged by motive and manner of spirit, not by the amount of effort exerted. The first workers in the parable that were hired focused on the other workers instead of their own labor.

Life is not always fair, but a life of faith always mingles mercy with justice. If the Christian should receive what he deserves for his sins, then only perdition and punishment would await those believers. The system of the world works very differently than the system of the Savior. God’s generosity is offered to all people in all generations. There is no room for jealousy among believers.  

Not only is the believer saved and kept by God’s grace but also the believer serves by grave. The rewards for that service are likewise based on grace. The believer is called by God’s grace to serve Him faithfully. God does not force but yearns for willing workers to answer His call. Faithfulness becomes the basis for reward. Participation in the harvest should be joyous, but the first workers grumbled about the generosity of the owner.

Obedience to the call should compel one to serve the Savior. One does not become a Christian just for what he or she can reap from its resources or from racking up rewards. One becomes a Christian to serve and satisfy the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. Each worker received what was promised. The landowner demonstrated that the wages depended upon him. Why did the owner need more workers? There was still work to do!

God is more than fair. He gives to His children not what they deserve but what they need. Remember that all the individuals standing in the market place were eager to work. Once an offer was given, those individuals “jumped” at the opportunity to work. The offer of salvation is presented to anyone and everyone, and when accepted, allows the recipient to see through the eyes of the Creator. Now, the worker must live and work by faith. His reward rests in the hand of God. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

There is no need to stand idle in the market place. The Lord has already called His children through His Word to work in this world. Jesus has freely given His own life; He asks His disciples to serve Him on that basis — a basis of love and trust. God will “supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Focus on the present need outweighs focus on future rewards. Therefore, let each Christian “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13).