Americans hate socialism.
The vast majority of both Republicans and Democrats (though there are a
few notable exceptions; yes Berny, I am looking at you 😊)
despise socialism. That said, everyone
likes getting something for nothing. Companies
like Publishers Clearinghouse, Amway, and your local Gym thrive on the idea of getting
something for nothing. Oh sure, you are
expected to invest “something” in any one of those companies to really
succeed. But for most of us, the most we
can muster is an initial commitment followed by decreasing interest, until our
participation is gone, and all the remains is our initial purchase, and perhaps
some lingering contract we are no longer able to get out of. Any organization like this will tell you,
that you can quit at any time. The truth
is, they count on it. For Publishers, the
trouble it takes to quit after you have subscribed is usually more than it is
worth, so voila, you have a new magazine to throw away every month. For Amway, you will undoubtedly quit, but not
before you yourself have purchased a myriad of products, and have likely talked
your family into buying them as well.
For your local Gym, there is only so much space in a Gym at any one
time, so if you don’t quit, they will quickly run out of room to keep selling
memberships. Besides, you reason to
yourself, you might use any one of these items in the future. In reality, little chance of it. It takes work and continued work, if anything
outside of a giveaway, is going to pay off.
Medicare is another interesting phenomenon. While it is far from perfect, and a constant
source of tax irritation (largely because funds that would make it solvent, are
often “borrowed” for other purposes, and never put back) – everyone who has it,
cannot imagine giving it up. An entire
older block of voters will punish anyone at the polls (Republican or Democrat)
who threatens to in any way diminish or take away Medicare. And these folks vote, they do not talk about
it, they do it, faithfully, even in mid term elections. Medicare directly impacts the pocket books of
the older set, and they already must watch every penny they have, losing health
care coverage could quite literally kill them, so they have pretty extreme motivation
to vote, if it is in any way threatened.
Further most everyone believes Medicare does a pretty good job as far as
health insurance goes. But the reality
is, we collect taxes from the younger set, to fund benefits for the older
set. Again, this is because we robbed
the older set for many years, using their money on other priorities. No one wants to remember this fact, but it is
true. The older set believes they
already paid for it. The younger set
knows they are truly the ones footing the bill.
And no matter our equal disdain for socialism, Medicare sure looks like
it to any casual observer. And despite this
appearance, Americans love Medicare.
But is it possible, that American ideals, are about as far
from how the Kingdom of Heaven works, as is possible? Matthew writes of a parable (a story that
is), that Jesus told in chapter nineteen of his gospel aimed at the Hebrews. The story is often referred to as the Parable
of the Vineyard workers. And it wreaks
of socialism, that is of shared rewards despite the level of effort
applied. But there are deeper concepts
that perhaps warrant a second look. Take
for instance the notion of possessions.
Ask yourself a simple question – what do you “own” in heaven? Now before you begin reciting a list of gifts
you are given in the kingdom, remember that all of these items will be given to
you. A new home, a new robe, a ring, a
crown, a new body, abilities that now dwarf your imagination, even a new name,
and a secret name. However all of these
items are gifts of a loving God, from Them, to you. None of them will you have earned in any way. And if even “you” are to be God’s treasure,
His possession, not your own – then can we safely say God owns everything, and
we own nothing. Even though He may see
fit to give us, what He owns for our use.
Case in point, let us study what Matthew records.
Picking up in verse 1 are the words of Christ Himself,
saying … “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder,
which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. [verse
2] And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them
into his vineyard.” There is so much
here in this simple beginning we so often lose sight of. Let us begin with how Jesus sees Himself, and
Godhead – as workers, or more specifically, as owners, engaged in a work,
actively involved in its success. The
owner of this vineyard is not on vacation hanging out in Rome, or Capri, or
Monaco on the beach. He is not taking in
the rewards of being an owner, or satisfied with being a rich man. Instead he is active in the day to day of His
vineyard. He cares about its
success. He wants it to grow. And He is willing to share that interest,
that passion with us. So the owner goes
into the world, seeks us out, and bargains with us to do a hard days labor for
the monetary reward of a penny. First
keep in mind, the penny, may have been an entire week’s reward back in the time
of this story, so the owner is not being a cheapo. Rather He is over paying laborers to do something,
the owner cares deeply about. The owner
hopes that by over-paying his labor force, they will take great care in their
work as well. He hopes to inspire
passion in them over this.
And again we get lost.
We think that “hard” work in itself could not possibly be the
reward. Instead we focus on the
penny. But this is the disconnect within
the Christian church. The work of
growing and tending to the vineyard is not hard because of the owner, it is
hard because of the lack of love that exists in the world, and often in the
mirror. We don’t actually “care” about
the grapes, or leaves, or branches – we just tolerate them. We adopt an attitude of doing what is
minimally required of us to tend His vineyard.
We attend church, pray when we are told, sing when we are told, read,
study, share when we feel as though we must.
But passion? We lack passion,
because we only focus on the penny, that will come only at the end of the day
as our reward. We are looking to get
into heaven as our reward. We are NOT
looking at seeing a well-tended vineyard as its own reward. We do not care to make sure we gather up
every single grape, leaving none to fall on the ground, while our apathy causes
us not to notice, or care. While we step
on that lost grape rather than carefully gathering it back up, dusting it off,
and tenderly placing it in our baskets intended for His winepress, or His use.
It is this passion for His work, that could become our
greatest reward, and requires no penny at the end of it. It is akin to being paid billions right in
the middle of it. Each act of mercy, of
love, of forgiveness we offer in the vineyard that our God is so passionate
about, are acts that show a harmony with the owner. You can only have that harmony if you
surrender who you are, and allow Jesus to make you who He intended you to be. But if you offer that surrender, you will
find yourself coming to believe that your “work” is indispensable. Your reward at that point is actually “the
time” you have to tend to the vineyard, not the mere penny that comes at the
end of the day. But time is only
precious to one who understands its value, in the ministry of the Lord’s
work. For the apathetic, time is better
spent on entertainment, luxury, and self-pleasure. Time to love others is kept at a minimum,
while time to enjoy life, and love self are maximized at every turn. Seen like this, time spent tending to His
vineyard is an obligation, we transact only for the bargain of the penny at day’s
end. And thus Christianity looks no
different than the world in which it is found.
But this was not how it was intended to be, only how it is, because we
refuse to surrender ourselves to Jesus for His transformation of us, ahead of
penny day anyway.
Jesus continues in verse 3 saying … “And he went out about
the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, [verse 4] And
said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will
give you. And they went their way.” Imagine
this story begins at six a.m. at the rising of the sun. Jesus the owner is already up, eaten
breakfast, dressed, and out there in the world negotiating with those He seeks
out to begin the work in His vineyard.
But Jesus not content to only seek workers at one point in time, or one
point during any given day. The more
workers, the more His vineyard can be tended to. So He goes back out to the marketplace, around
nine a.m. just after it has opened where workers stand idle, rather engaging
themselves in purchasing. If they are
anything like us, they would buy more than what they need, or more than what
they should. Instead Jesus approaches
them and offers them His passion for a vineyard. The Owner “KNOWS” the day, and the work has
already begun, and He is intent on paying them something “fair” anyway. The would-be consumers abandon their frivolity
and instead head to the vineyard that this Owner cares so much about to join
and tend and help the garden grow.
Jesus continues in verse 5 saying … “Again he went out about
the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.”
So again imagine it is now noon, half the day having gone by. But the owner is still not content to rest on
the work He has already done in recruiting labor for His vineyard. If He can find more, He is willing to seek for
more. So back to the marketplace at
noon, while it is in full swing. He
seeks out those who would be willing to work, even if it is only for half a
day. For half a day’s labor, they would
likely expect half a day’s wage.
Probably something far less than half a penny in these times. But notice again the penny was not
discussed. Only the same offer as
before, that something fair would be rewarded them at the end of the day. Seeing the passion of the Owner, the workers
are inspired and decide to join the effort.
They probably expected to enter a barren field, not one that was already
crowded with workers. But the more who
come the greater extents of the vineyard that can be addressed. And so more workers join the effort.
Jesus continues in verse 6 saying … “And about the eleventh
hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why
stand ye here all the day idle? [verse 7] They say unto him, Because no man
hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever
is right, that shall ye receive.” Now it
is five o’clock, quitting time will be in one hour and sunset not far behind
that. But the owner has not lost an
ounce of His passion, about this vineyard.
He is not back at the house eating dinner made by servants. Instead He has gone to undiscovered places
where potential workers can be found. He
asks them why they stand idle at five o’clock only an hour before quitting time
of a good working day. This question is
posed squarely at us. Why do we stand
idle, before the work we KNOW needs to be done, but leave for others to
do? The workers reply that no one else
would hire them. Sounds to me like they
did not put out resumes and actively seek employment. Or maybe they did, and no one else saw them
as qualified or motivated to work. But
bottom line, even though it is SO late in the day, this Owner is not going to
pass up even more willing workers. So
off to His vineyard they go, willing to work, even though there is little time
to get work done.
It is these workers who will be gifted the least amount of
time, and so it should be the most precious to them. Is time this precious to you? Have you come to see the passion of the Owner,
can become the passion within your veins, and now understand why He was still
searching for laborers to share His work with Him? So little time, so much to do, so few to do
it, so few that care if it gets done. Do
you care, or do you still look to your own needs, and an end-of-day reward when
time itself is no more? This owner has
not lost passion despite the time, if anything it has intensified His passion
within Him to seek out still others for His vineyard. And now, when everyone least expects it. Time has run out. The day is over. The opportunity to work is complete. Now only reward is left.
Jesus continues in verse 8 saying … “So when even was come,
the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give
them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. [verse 9] And when
they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a
penny. [verse 10] But when the first came, they supposed that they should have
received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.” It is day’s end. Time for final rewards. And now the generosity of the Lord of Vineyard
is on display. He gives each worker the
same penny (there is only one heaven after all), no matter if they started
working at 5:00 o’clock, or noon, or nine a.m., or even at the crack of dawn at
six a.m.. The Owner gives them all the
same over payment He had promised. No one
is cheated, everyone is paid. But the ones
there the longest, supposed they would be getting more than the first amount
they had agreed to. When they looked at
the last minute arrivals getting the same pay as them, who were there from the
crack of dawn, they reasoned it must be unfair.
In their minds, only the end of day reward was the reward. The work was work, not something to take
passion in, and decidedly not something they shared the owner’s passion
in. Overpayment did nothing to motivate
them to care, only to work
Jesus continues in verse 11 saying … “And when they had
received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, [verse 12] Saying,
These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us,
which have borne the burden and heat of the day. [verse 13] But he answered one
of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for
a penny? [verse 14] Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this
last, even as unto thee. [verse 15] Is it not lawful for me to do what I will
with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?” Here the heart of the Owner is revealed. He cares about His entire work force. He rewards ALL of us with what He has
promised. There is nothing more, nothing
less. There is no precedence among the
workers, all the workers are the same.
And the Owner will leave nothing behind, His passion for His vineyard
remains, His passion for His workers remains.
Even though NONE of us deserve His overpayment, He pays us all
anyway. What we miss, what we
undervalue, what we do not understand, is the value of time engaged in His
work, in His vineyard. It was the time,
that was allocated “fairly”, those who spent more of it, had more of it. Those who spend less of it, got less of
it. But what is time without passion. What is a vineyard, that you simply do not
care anything about – it is work, nothing more.
Jesus concludes His story in verse 16 saying … “So the last
shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” The call is universal. It goes out to every person in the
world. But it goes out to every person
within the church as well. The call is
to begin a life of perfection, a life of transformation in the here and now,
where Time matters. To share the passion
of the Owner, is a different way to live, than to simply do what is required of
you. Keeping the commandments is
different, than having them be a part of who you character is. Are your eyes evil, because our Lord is
good? Do you intend to bring the
concepts of ownership and possession with you into the kingdom of heaven, where
they do not exist today? You will own
nothing there, be given everything there.
And this model is not different here.
You think you work for what you have, but your job, your health, your
family, your support systems are ALL gifts of the Most High. You own none of them. He “owns” all of them, and makes gifts of
them to you. But not because you deserve
them, or because you have worked for them, simply because He loves you.
And our God loves your co-workers equally as much as He
loves you. Even if they put in less
effort. Even if they only discover Him
at the last minute. Even while they are
sinning in the world, content to ignore His word, His call, and His love. He is still passionate about them. He is not willing to see a single grape drop
from the vine into the dirt and be ignored.
He will have every single one of them carefully dusted off, and placed
in His basket. Heaven has no
capitalism. There is no ownership or
earning there. There is serving, but it
is service for nothing, without reward, only for the reward of serving. We will share everything, own nothing. We will love so much, and care so much, we
would give everything we own to anyone who even seemed mildly interested. That is a form of socialism no communist even
dreamed of. It is a form of socialism
based on a passionate love no one can begin to extinguish. And the hearts that embrace it then, can
learn to embrace it now, if we are willing to surrender to Jesus. I would know the passion of my Owner, and
learn to care like He does, for His vineyard.
