Sermon/Message: September 17, 1999
ICM Monterrey, Pastor: David Pettitt
Translated from Spanish by Rev. David Pettitt

First Reading: Philippians 1:21-30
Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 20:1-16

Everybody seems to want their fair share... and when we think we aren't getting what we are entitled to... we get upset. This is exactly what happened in tonight's parable.

Those who were hired first (early in the day), felt as though they had been cheated or not dealt with fairly. After all, they worked all day... they did more work... and they suffered working through the hottest part of the day...

And yet, they received the same as those who had just worked the last hour. Sometimes, Life Just Doesn't Seem Fair!

Teachers all seem to have a distinctive style. Jesus was no different! He loved to teach using parables - He made his point in each lesson, by telling a short story. He left it up to those listening (or even those of us reading the Bible today) to figure out what He really meant.

Scripture says, "He did not speak to the people except in parables; later He explained everything in private to the disciples." Mark 4:33

The first-hired, complained to the landowner saying they did not feel they were treated fairly. The owner of the vineyard responded: "You received what I promised you. These others are receiving the same as you, because I chose to give them from what I have been blessed with."

There are three points that I noticed when studying this parable:

#1 The Landowner personally selected all the workers.
#2 Everyone was willing to work.
And #3 Everyone was treated the same.

#1 The Landowner personally selected all the workers - God created each of us for a specific purpose and each of us has been gifted through the Holy Spirit to fulfill this purpose. Discovering this, may seem difficult or even impossible - Sometimes, Life Just Doesn't Seem Fair - However, we have to be an active partner in Answering The Call!

God is the Landowner of the vineyard...
God is the One who created and gifted us...
And God is the One who personally Calls Each of Us into the field to work.

#2 Everyone was willing to work - The Harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few... And yet, this landowner had no trouble finding idle people who were all willing to work. Sometimes it is simply a matter of someone asking us to do a specific task.

I have found over the years, that I am very effective in getting people to do something. Why do you think this is? Well, for one thing, I never Tell Someone What To Do... I usually ASK them if they are willing to do something. I also generally state the reason why I am asking.

As a church, we have a lot of work to do... And there are still a lot of people who are idle... Like those in tonight's parable, they are standing around waiting for someone to put them to work.

This is not just in our church... Integrating people into a ministry of a Christian Church is the single most difficult thing to do for any church. This is also the reason some churches grow and some do not.

Basically, I think most people are willing to participate. But number one, they stand around waiting for someone to ask them to do something. OR, number two, they want to know what they are going to be doing and why...They also might want to know who will benefit.

During our recent Strategic Growth Initiative Workshop, we identified two strategic projects. One I have mentioned before, has to do with the choir. The second project addresses the issue of Integrating New People into a Lay Ministry Area. There is a team currently working out the details to this project. If you have any interest or ideas which might help this process, please contact Oscar.

This brings me to point number three - Everyone in the story was treated the same. In theory, this sounds really good... everyone is treated the same way. But then, Sometimes, Life Just Doesn't Seem Fair!... At least that is what the workers who started out first thought when it came time to receive their pay.

They were furious with the landowner when they realized the last ones hired not only got paid first, but they received the same amount as they did.

I love to be in a meeting or discussion when someone points out that they have been involved longer than someone else. It seems as though they feel they are more privileged because they have been here longer...and working in the proverbial heat...

This is one more example of Jesus pointing out, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." Sometimes, Life Just Doesn't Seem Fair!

Whether you were saved as a young person or you are still working on accepting Christ as your personal savior... we are all going to get the same reward... we all hope to get to heaven... But guess what?... all the seats in the house are the same!

There are no places in heaven reserved for the more privileged OR those who have served the Lord longer... It won't matter if you were the president of Mexico OR the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, OR a street beggar in the poorest nation on earth... All will receive the same reward!

The next time you start thinking "Life Just Doesn't Seem Fair!" I hope you are able to remember this parable and this message of explanation... It isn't about what happens here on earth that should matter... it's where we are going that should count the most.

I want to end this message with a little story I received in my email this past Saturday:

ALL was quiet in the little church... Every head was bowed in reverence... The pastor ended the service with a pastoral prayer and the congregation prayed in unison, "Our Creator, who are in heaven, hallowed be thy name." In that holy moment, the words of Malachi came to my mind:

"Do we not all have one Heavenly Parent? Did not ONE God create us all?" The conclusion was obvious. We are all children of the same "Parent, who art in heaven." God has no grandchildren; we are all God's sons and daughters. Therefore, we are also brothers and sisters. We have all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being in God's family.

Wherever God's children go and whatever they do, God loves them. Whatever their circumstances, this love will never let them go. God's love becomes the perfect model for the love brothers and sisters in God's family should show to one another.

1 John 3:1 "See what love our Heavenly Parent has given us... that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Christ."

Let Us Pray: Dear God, thank You for Your Unconditional Love You so freely share with each of us. Help us Lord, to love all our brothers and sisters just as You love us. Help us to realize that You have no favorites and that each of us one day, will receive the same reward with You in Your Celestial and Permanent Home. It is through the mighty name of Jesus Your Son [and our brother] we all say with confidence, Amen!

The author of this material is Rev. David Pettitt, pastor of the MCC in Monterrey, Mexico.