The Reward of Grace

The Reward of Grace

By Apostle Felix

14  If I want to give those who only worked for an hour equal pay, what does that matter to you?
15  Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Why should my generosity make you jealous of them?’
16  “Now you can understand what I meant when I said that the first will end up last and the last will end up being first. Everyone is invited, but few are the chosen.”

Matthew 20: 14 – 16

Jesus gave a parable to liken the kingdom of God to a landowner who went out to hire workers to work in his farm. He shared this parable with His disciples because of the concern the disciples had expressed. In Matthew chapter nineteen, the disciples witnessed a conversation Jesus had with a rich young man, who had come to Christ with a self righteous attitude. The rich young man was a law keeping Judaizer, who was proud of his piety life. However, the rich young man lacked one thing in his life, which was generosity. Jesus asked him to give all the money and possessions he had and then to come and follow Jesus. The rich young man was very angry upon hearing Jesus’ request. He left very sad. Then Jesus made a statement that shocked the disciples. Jesus said, it would be very hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

23  Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “Listen. Do you understand how difficult it is for the rich to enter into heaven’s kingdom realm?
24  In fact, it’s easier to stuff a heavy rope through the eye of a needle than it is for the wealthy to enter into God’s kingdom realm!” 

Matthew 19: 23, 24

The disciples were shocked and disappointed by the statement Jesus had said. Initially, the disciples followed Jesus for financial gain, political power and popularity. They thought there following Jesus will be rewarded with wealth and money. So, they protested in anyway in the following words.

27  Then Peter blurted out, “Here we are. We’ve given up everything to follow you. What reward will there be for us?” 

Matthew 19: 27

Peter was honest enough. He actually spoke out his intentions. He left his fishing trade for something he thought will make him wealthier, and powerful. So, the disciples did not take what Jesus said about the rich young man very well.

Coming back to Matthew chapter twenty. Jesus was now responding to His disciples in a parable of the laborers in the vineyard. Jesus was responding to their assumption of reward. They were expecting great reward in earthly terms, but Jesus had to introduce the kingdom system of reward.

Last will be first, and the first last: This is the essence of God’s grace, when He rewards and blesses man according to His will and pleasure, not necessarily according to what men deserve.

i. The system of law is easy to figure out: you get what you deserve. The system of grace is foreign to man: God deals with us according to who He is, not according to who we are.

ii. It is important to see that the landowner did not treat anyone unfairly, though he was more generous to some than to others. We can be assured that God will never, ever be unfair to us.

iii. This parable is not a perfect illustration of God’s grace, because the principle of working and deserving is involved. The grace of God does not give us more blessing than we deserve – it gives blessing to us completely apart from the principle of deserving.

iv. Living under grace is sort of a two-edged sword. Under grace, we can’t come to God complaining, “Don’t I deserve better than this”; because God will reply, “Does this mean that you really want Me to give you what you deserve?”

v. Grace should be especially manifested in our service; it is of grace, not works.

· All our service is already due to God; it belongs to Him.

· The ability to serve God is the gift of His grace.

· The call to serve God is the gift of His grace.

· Every opportunity to serve is a gift of His grace.

· Being in the right state of mind to do the Lord’s work is a gift of grace.

· Successful service to God is the gift of His grace.