I’ve always appreciated the parable about the man who hired workers at the start of the day and continued throughout the day. At the close of the day, when he was paying the workers, they all received the same wage – which all had agreed to prior to starting work. Those who had worked all day complained that it wasn’t ‘fair’ because they had worked all day and the last group had worked less. The response (and explanation): Matthew 20: 1-16
“Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for
a denarius? Take what is yours and go… Is it not lawful for me to do
what I wish with my own things?”
However, it is the end of these verses that caused me pause. “So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” What is Jesus telling us in these verses? Perhaps it’s related to Paul’s teaching in Philippians beginning with 2:12
“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God
who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do
all things without complaining and disputing…”
Fair is one of those words that we all used, typically when things don’t go our way. According to Webster, ‘fair’ is: “what is thought to be right or acceptable,
treating people in a way that does not favor some over others, marked by impartiality and honesty, free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism.” Is this your definition? More important – does this describe how you interact with others? Does working out our salvation require us to act ‘fair’ toward others? Is this the embodiment of our behavior?
There are many lessons to be learned from this scripture and Jesus’ teaching. I’m only looking at one very small component – fair. But I believe it is how we respond when we sense the situation isn’t fair that tells our story. We won’t always be treated fairly, but this does not give us license to respond in like manner. Regardless of the situation, we are required, I believe, to behave fairly toward others. Truly, we are empowered to act this way since most of us would default to a different reaction. However, we have to choose to be what the Lord designs us to be.
