God’s Economic Plan- Grace

Jesus was a wonderful teacher; he taught by telling stories or parables. One thought-provoking parable starts like this:  The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
 
The men who were hired at daybreak negotiated their wage for a full day’s work, and so the men went to work.
 
After discovering that more workers were needed, the landowner went out again – a second, third, fourth, and then a final time, at the 11th hour.  He found men standing idle, and hired them, telling them simply that he would pay a fair wage.
 
How is the kingdom of God like the landowner? The landowner continued to seek workers all day.  He didn’t say, “come this morning, or you’re out of luck.”  The landowner was persistent in finding workers, just as God is persistent in seeking us, even to the end of our days. 
 
Jesus continued and described the payment of wages.  Those who arrived last were paid first and received a full day’s wage.  Then the men who came at 3:00, at noon, at 9:00am, and finally those who began at daybreak.  And to everyone’s surprise, they each received a full day’s wage.   The men who were hired at daybreak were paid last, and probably anticipated that they would get extra pay.  They were disappointed when they received the same payment as the others, even though they had worked more hours than anyone else. 
 
And we would probably agree with them.  To be fair, those who worked more hours should receive more pay! 
 
It is hard to understand the parable of the vineyard owner…who paid everyone the same…no matter how long they worked.  
 
And Jesus confuses us even more when he continues: “it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” 
 
When his disciples protested, Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  And that, friends, reveals the meaning of the parable of the rich vineyard owner.
 
It doesn’t matter how long and how hard we work. Nothing we do will earn God’s favor.  God favors us because God is generous.  God’s economic plan for each of us?  Grace.   With God, all things are possible. 
 
If you have accepted Christ and been a Christian your whole life, if you trust in God’s grace working in your life, that is a gift.
 
If you came to Christianity later in life, you also have the gift of God’s grace.
 
If you are still seeking, God also seeks you.  God invites you to take the job, promising to treat you fairly and generously. When you are ready, you can also receive God’s gift of grace.  Grace is God’s economic plan for you.