Fair?
Matt.
20.1-16
I
have been thinking about the crisis in the economy.
I
have been thinking about the finance companies.
Older,
thrifty, prudent people have saved for their old age
-and
finance companies have not been careful with their savings.
Young
people, full of hope, have borrowed to buy a home
-and
finance companies have loaned the young ones more than they could service.
It’s
not fair!
I
remember saying to my father about something that had happened,
‘It’s
not fair!’ He said,
‘Get
used to it laddie.’ He went on,
‘As
you go through life you’ll find there’s a lot of it about.’
What
do you think about these men who worked all day, for a day’s pay
-and
then the man who worked just an hour or two got paid the same!
Is
that fair?
I
think a panel would be helpful as we explore these things.
………………..
would you like to join a panel?
When
those who worked all day grumbled, the employer said,
‘I
paid you what we agreed.’
Isn’t
that fair enough?
What
does the panel think?
…………….
The
employer went on,
‘I
want to pay this man I hired last the same.
Don’t
I have the right to do as I wish with my own money?’
Isn’t
that fair enough?
Margaret
has given this some thought.
Elements
of the story:
I
think when the man who worked just a few hours was paid first and given a
day’s pay –it raised the expectations of those who had worked all day.
They
had hoped they might get a bit more than what had been agreed.
It
is often not helpful to compare ourselves against someone else.
Comparing
can make us discontent.
It
can make us feel ill-used.
What
does the panel think?
……………………..
Let’s
have a look at this man hired last.
He
had been standing there all day, hoping to get some work.
He
didn’t go off home. He waited and waited, hoping.
Maybe
be had a family to provide for.
Maybe
he had a loan to pay back.
Was
it his fault he didn’t get hired until late in the day?
Maybe
the employer was aware of these things.
What
does the panel think?
…………….
I
am thinking about the election.
Is
the parable saying,
-people
should be paid, not according to their work
but
according to their need?
What
have you been thinking?
Is
the employer fair?
I
invite you to have a word with your neighbour.
……………….
Margaret
has another view.
Elements
of the story:
My
father-in-law used to say ………….. ‘Your work is your health.’
Our
work gives us a sense of purpose.
Our
work is something engrossing, stimulating.
Our
work brings us satisfaction when something goes well.
Our
work gives us the company of our colleagues.
Our
work is more than earning the money.
We
can think of the men working in the vineyard, harvesting grapes,
making
their way along the rows, talking, laughing.
And
we can think of the man standing all day in the square, waiting.
Work
is more than earning the money.
I’m
thinking about these men who worked all day complaining about the man who
worked a few hours being paid the same as them.
Do
you think they were mean-spirited?
Or
were they only human?
Could
they have said to the employer,
‘Good
on you! That’s a nice thing to do!’
Could
they have said to the man,
‘We’re
very happy for you! You waited all day.
You’ll
be able to pay those bills now!’
Or
is that too big hearted to ask of anyone?
What
does the panel think?
……………….
Let’s
have a look at the employer.
He
pays a man more than he earned.
The
employer is generous and gracious.
Do
you think the employer might be God?
We
celebrate the spring time. We see a wonderful abundance of spring flowers.
Everywhere
we look, we see blossoms and daffodils and sometimes magnolia.
We
don’t get what we have earned.
We
get more than we could possibly ever earn!
We
don’t get what’s fair.
We
get far more than what’s fair!
I
remember sitting with a woman terminally ill in hospital.
I
asked her, ‘what are you feeling?’ She said,
‘I’ve
been thinking, I’m so lucky.’
She
went on,
‘I’m
getting the best of care here.
I’ve
had my friends visit me.
I’m
loved by my family.
I’m
just so lucky, John.
So
lucky.’