H
e told then a remarkable story. It is a story I do not understand, even today. Let me tell it to you and then I will share my concerns. "Many," said Jesus, "who are first will be last, and those thought to be last will be first. The realm of heaven is like a man who, as master of his house, went out at the dawn of the day to hire workers for his vineyard, and he agreed with the workers for a denary for the day's work, and sent them into his vineyard.
"But going out about three hours later, he saw others standing, doing nothing in the marketplace enclosure where men stood hoping to be hired by someone, and said to them, "you, too, go into the vineyard, and whatever may be right I will give you.' With these however, he did not agree for a denary, but for 'whatever may be right.' So they too, went to labor in the vineyard. Every three hours thereafter, he went to the marketplace enclosure to find additional workers.
"Toward the very end of the day he went out and again found some others standing around waiting for someone to hire them. Since they had been there the entire day and not gone home thinking to come back tomorrow, they must have been hungry and desperate for a job. The man came to these and said, "Why do you men stand here all day with nothing to do?" They answered him plainly, 'Because no one hired us.' Alright, he said, 'You, too, go into the vineyard, and whatever may be right you will receive."
"When evening came, the vineyard owner said to his overseer, 'Call the workers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and on up to the first.' Now when those hired late in the day came, they received each of them a denary. So when the first came, they thought that they ought to get more, but they likewise received each of them a denary. And on receiving it they complained against the master of the house saying, 'These last have worked only one hour, and you gave them equal payment with us who bore the burden and the burning heat of the day.'
"But in answer he said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denary? Take what is yours and go, and I will give to this last one the same as to you. May I not do what I choose with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?'
"So it is that the last shall be first and the first last."
I've no doubt nor question that eternal reward is the province of God. He sets up and takes down as he has the right. Who receives what and for what reason is entirely his. Yet I know the Father. He is just and fair. He will not give to one what he does not warrant, nor take away from another what he does. This being the case, I have struggled with the meaning this story. Perhaps the point is this: That which men think is meritorious may or may not be so with God. We must remember that God looks upon the heart, not on things as they may appear to the human eye. God looks at intent. Intent and motives are of far greater import with God than they are with men. So by what measure men draw, it may not be and likely will not be the instrument by which the Father measures. From the human perspective then, what we consider last may be first with God, and that which we consider first, may be last. But however convoluted we may adjuciate, God is just and in the end, his justice, driven by his love, will prevail.
