Monday, July 26, 2010

Equal Wages, Unequal Work (Matthew 20:1-16)





BECAUSE NO ONE HAS HIRED US



IT COULD BE IMMIGRANT LABOR

OR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

OR UNTRAINED LABOR

BUT THE LANDOWNER

AT THE LAST HOUR

SAID

COME WORK FOR ME



AND EVERYMAN

AT PAY TIME

RECEIVED THE SAME

WAGES



NOW THE STORY WAS NOT TOLD

AS AN EXAMPLE OF LABOR MANAGEMENT

OR HOW TO FAIL IN BUSINESS



BUT ALL ARE INVITED

TO COME INTO THE VINEYARD



SOME

WILL BE IN THE VINEYARD

UNDER THE SUN

ALL DAY



SOME

PART OF THE DAY



SOME WILL COME

WHEN EVENING CHILL

IS IN THE AIR



AND THE MASTER SAYS

IS YOUR EYE EVIL

BECAUSE I AM GOOD



IT DOESN’T SOUND FAIR

AND IT ISN’T

IN HUMAN TERMS



BUT GOD WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND

THAT HE WILL LEAVE

THE NINETY NINE SAFE SHEEP

AND SEEK THE LOST ONE

SO GREAT IS HIS DESIRE

THAT ALL BE SAFE



IT WOULD BE WELL FOR US TO REMEMBER

THAT WE LABOR NOT FOR WAGES

OR GOD’S APPROVAL



THE REWARD IS A GIFT FROM GOD

AND THE REWARD IS THE SAME FOR ALL



WE SHOULD REJOICE WITH THE SHEPHERD

AT THE FINDING OF THE LOST SHEEP





FRANK A VOLLMER

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