A Story of Grace and Mercy

Yesterday I was reading a story about the owner of an estate that was hiring workers.  He went out and very early in the morning and found several qualified for the job.  They agreed on $75 for a full day’s work. 

Later, about 9:00 he saw some other unemployed men hanging around the courthouse.  He asked if they would like to work.  “Yes, they said.  He took them to the field and said he would pay them a fair wage.  He did the same thing about noon. Then again at 3:00. About 5:00 he found several others just “hanging out” downtown and asked them, “Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?”  “Because no one hired us,” they said. 

“Well, go to work on my estate until quitting time and I’ll treat you right.”  And they did.

When the work day ended, the owner of the estate instructed the foreman to call all the workers in and pay them.  “Start with the last hired and then go on to the first ones,” he said.

Well, imagine their surprise when those hired at 5:00 received $75!  And so did those at 3pm!  Those hired earlier were excited, assuming they would get a lot more!  But they all received the same amount!

The men hired early in the morning were angry.  Upset.  And Jealous.  “Those last workers put in one easy hour,” they objected. “And we worked through the heat the day!  And you paid them the same as us?  That’s not fair!

“Well,” said the owner, “Did you get what was promised?  Can’t the owner do what he wants with his own money?  Are you going to be upset because I’m generous?”

By now, I’m sure many of you have guessed that this is a modern version of Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard found in Matthew 20:1-16  Actually, it is “Weliever translation!”

Jesus began that parable saying. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.”  While there are several lessons learned from this parable, there is one lesson that has been on my mind.

When we moved to Kansas city about 6 weeks ago, we met a man named “Mack.”  He had been in the nursing home.  Now he was in the hospital.  He was 80 years old.  In poor health. And blind.  He willingly shared his story.

He said that his wife had wanted him to obey the gospel for a long time.  But he knew that it had to be his decision.  It had to be for him.  And for God.  Not anyone else.  So on December 19, 2011, he confessed Christ and obeyed the gospel.

Last Wednesday Mack died.  Yesterday I preached his funeral.  And I read Jesus’ parable and told Mack’s story.  I share them with you to say this.

It’s never too late to come to Christ.  To find His forgiveness. To discover His goodness. To Enjoy His blessings. 

Our God is  merciful. Compassionate. And loving.  He is willing to receive those who will come to him at any time.  Early in their lives.  Or even at the 11^th hour.

And I learn from this parable, that it is not my right to judge.  To complain.  Or to grumble about what God does.  Instead of being jealous that God will extend His mercy, I should be glad.

The wise man said “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.”

Yesterday, my heart was made better by going to the house of mourning.  And my life has been enriched a little more by knowing Mack.  May his good wife, Exie, be comforted by God’s promise of grace, and mercy.

And may we all be reminded, encouraged and challenged by Jesus’ concluding statement. “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Ken Weliever, The Preacherman