God is Not Fair

God is not fair.  And for that, I am immeasurably grateful.  If God were fair, you and I, and everything we love and enjoy, would be blotted out of existence for our deplorable care we have given God’s immeasurable gift.

We have despoiled the planet through our selfish desires, in pursuit of comforts, ease and riches.  We have mistreated and abused one another.  We have not carried His love to the rest of His children, as He has lavished it upon us.

But, thankfully, our God is not fair.

This Sunday we will read Jesus’ parable of the landowner who hired several batches of workers at different times of the day.  Click here to read it.

When the end of the day came, they all received a denarius, the usual daily wage for a laborer.  Those who had worked all day were angry, believing they deserved more than those who had worked only an hour at the end of the day, even though they were paid what they had agreed to.  Truthfully, I think we can all sympathize.

But the generosity of the landowner is such that everyone gets the full reward — all that they could need.  A denarius was enough for food and shelter for the day.  And the generosity of our God is that we all get the full reward — all that we need.  (Not want — need.)

This is not a parable about economic justice — I would not advocate paying those who work 1 hour the same as those who work 12.  This is a parable about the generosity of God and the reality that God pours out his love on us, giving us all that we need, not what we earn or deserve.

No, God is not fair.  Give thanks!
In Christ,

Fr. Eric Turner
Rector

This article is from St. John’s eNews for Sunday, September 24, 2017.  Click here for the complete eNews.

If you are reading this later, you may click here for the current eNews.