“These . . hired last . . you paid the same as you paid us.” Matthew 20:12 Today’s English version
“Work happily for what you agreed upon without comparison or complaint.”
My thoughts today concern the reality that “life’s not fair.”
Children, even the youngest, seem to have a heightened sense of what they see to be fair play. Their worst accusation about another child appears to be, “They don’t play fair.” Kids count who has the most, track who goes first, make sure they get their turn, and microscopically measure their share of anything with the exactness of a CPA and the precise skill of a surgeon – all in the self-interest of fair play, at least for themselves anyway.
I love the story of a practical mother whose two boys, always argued who got the biggest piece, of anything. Finally, exasperated by their fussing, she observed that somebody always felt the other unfairly got a bigger share. And usually that was true – “mistakenly” a little bigger, and of course “unintentional.” She set a simple rule – whichever brother did the dividing, the other boy chose first! Sadly, I find myself occasionally with a carnal attention to getting my fair share, preferably with a little extra just for good measure, well deserved, I easily persuade myself.
If you have not already discovered this – right or wrong, like it or not – life is not always fair at any given moment and was never promised to you as being that. If you were expecting life to be fair, the sooner you are “dis-illusioned” of that, the sooner you have a chance of being happier.
Today’s verse is a complaint made by workers who wrongly took exception when others were paid the same as they, though they had worked less of the day. Read Matthew 20:1-16. They complained about neither the work nor the promised wage; they received exactly what they had agreed to work for, a day’s wage for a day’s work. They complained that by comparison, it seemed unfair. That happens so easily, almost without your intent and before your notice – and then you are unhappy, discontent, and complaining to God and others.
Comparison seems to breed complaint. Don’t compare yourself with others; be yourself! Don’t compare what you have with what others have; “Be content with what you have . . say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper.’” Hebrews 13:6 NIV.
Jesus concluded His story with the employer’s explanation, “I have not been unfair . . didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? It is wrong for me to do what I want with what is my own? Should you be angry because I am kind.” Matthews 20:13-16 NLT. See 2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV.
Peter apparently felt life was unfair when Jesus told him of the trouble ahead for him. His immediate inclination was to point at John and ask about John’s fate, “What about him?” Jesus redirected Peter to his own walk of faith, “What is that to you? You must follow Me.” John 21:21-22. The grace gifts God gives to you or others are of His provision and concern alone. Until you can be thankful for what you have, why would you be given more of the same?
Here’s a practical application for everyday life that I draw from Jesus’ story: work happily for what you agreed without comparison or complaint. Give an honest day’s work for a full day’s wage – as unto the Lord. Colossians 3:22-24 NLT.
Why take a job and then complain about the work, or the people you work with, or the person you work for? No one can make you work there, if you are unhappy there; no one can make you happy there, if you don’t want to be there. You alone determine your happiness. Life is not always fair; Jesus is!
My prayer for you today is to become less concerned about the score, and start enjoying the game.