God’s Compensation Plan

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In Matthew 20 there are two examples of how God thinks differently than we do about work and compensation. The first is the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Jesus says the Kingdom works in such a way that someone that only works an hour can get paid the same as the one who worked all day. In our culture this is just unfair. No one would agree to those terms up front. When the all day workers saw they were paid the same as the part time they complained. The master then says,

"Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?"

A little later on James and John's mom asks for Jesus to save seats for her sons in heaven. Jesus responds by saying God the Father makes that decision. The other disciples complained when they heard the mother's request. Jesus calls them over and explains,

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The world's influence has tainted how we value position. The CEO is the most important and as the levels of management go down the level of importance follows. God does not value position in this manner. Each of us is given gifts and tasks according to God's wisdom. We are then rewarded for our obedience. The pastor of the megachurch and the praying granny do not have a level of priority assigned to them based on their gifting or responsibility. We do know that to whom much is given much is required. This does not effect the value of someone that is given little though. Little is a relative term in and of itself. It is little in earthly terms. The little we may have done with obedience can produce miraculous results. See the boy with five loaves and two fish. The praying granny has made it possible for the megachurch pastor to do all he is tasked to do. Without her the pastor may have never gotten to his assignment. It comes down to serving. It's not how long or how much you serve. It is about how well you serve. God is the one that rewards how He sees fit. It is not our place to complain about the amount of service required or the reward that is given.