Fair Pay

Is getting paid for a full-day fair when you only work an hour?

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last." - Matt. 20:1-16

If the workers were supposed to work all day and arrived late, they should not get a full day's pay.

But that's not what happened here.  Jesus tells us the owner went out several times to offer work to the laborers waiting for work.  Each time he hired them, they went to work.

Each time, the owner planned to give them a daily wage.

The only reason this seems unfair is because of expectations.  Those who had worked the whole day originally expected what they were promised, a day's wages.  But when they saw the owner give that amount to the ones who had worked only one hour, they expected more.

Of course, they had no idea he would be so generous, or they would have held out and waited.

Whenever I hear this parable, I wonder what the next day will be like.  

Would the laborers refuse to start work, hoping to work just an hour for a day's pay?

The point of the parable is to teach us about God's grace.  God will forgive us if we turn to Him in our final hour.  So, should we live a life of sin and hope we remember to do that at the end?

I think intent plays a role here.  The workers wanted to work.  They were not holding out for a better deal.  If we try to gamble with God, there is a really good chance that will not turn out well.

If I intend to follow God and I slip, I can recover, but if I intend to deceive, watch out.

More to come...