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“The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ‘These men 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 heat of the day.'” Matthew 20:9-12 (NIV).

When I first read this parable about workers in a vineyard, I was amazed at the seemingly unfair way that the original workers were treated. How could the owner of the vineyard pay the laborers who worked only one hour the same amount as those that worked all day? Shouldn’t all of the laborers get paid the same wage per hour?

Sometimes we are tempted to feel the same way that the grumbling workers felt. We have been faithful in church attendance. We have served on church boards, sung in the choir, contributed regularly, taught Sunday School, and volunteered for workdays and bake sales. Shouldn’t we have a greater reward here on earth than those who are not as active in service to the Lord? And if we don’t get recognition for our superior efforts here in earth, shouldn’t we be singled out for special treatment in heaven?

Based on the parable Jesus taught in Matthew 20, the answer is an emphatic “NO”!!!

We can be thankful that God doesn’t judge us by our feeble attempts at “good works.” If He did, we would all be lost eternally. We sin daily and deserve nothing more than His wrath and punishment for our sinful actions. Instead, our loving God is full of grace. He sent His Son to be our substitute and endure that punishment for us.

Does the knowledge that our salvation is already assured weaken our motivation to serve God? On the contrary. Our desire to do the will of God becomes even stronger because of His grace. Instead of trying to earn God’s favor by doing good, we thankfully serve Him out of love for what He has done for us. Christian stewardship is motivated by thankfulness.

For Christians, the celebrations surrounding Christmas and Easter never grow old. Because Jesus came to earth as a baby, lived a sinless life, died and rose again, we have the confidence to face each day knowing that eternal life in heaven is ours. We live lives of service to God, not out of expectations of reward for our deeds, but out of gratitude for the forgiveness He has given us through Christ.