J. J.
May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
“The early bird gets the worm”
In our text today, Jesus tells His disciples another parable about the Kingdom of Heaven. You will recall that He told them He was the Messiah, the Promised One of God, and that He was the Rock, and that in and through Him they would find Peace. He told them that the Kingdom of Heaven is the opposite of ways of this world. So instead of seeking to be the greatest, they would be like a little child, and be the least. For in the Kingdom of Heaven, it is Keepers, Weepers, Losers, Finders.
And He told them that in the Kingdom of Heaven, there is unity. One shepherd, one flock. “One is the loveliest number.” And that unity is possible because of the greatest of God’s forgiveness. And forgiveness that is flowing, deep, and wide.
And now He tells them that in the Kingdom, Christ gives abundantly and freely, above and beyond all we need, both now and in the age to come. He explained it like this.
The master of the house, that is the owner, had a vineyard. He had cultivating or pruning or harvesting to do and he needed workers. So he goes out to the marketplace, to the street corner, where the laborers are hanging out. The master goes out early, 6 a.m., and he finds them there already.
The workers bargain it out, and agree to work for the prevailing wage. They come to the vineyard and get to work. The early bird gets the worm, as the saying goes.
The master hires more workers at nine, at noon, and again at three o’clock. And He hires even more right before quitting time. The whistle blows, the day is done. Payday is here. So the Master has the cashier to pay the latecomers first, and so on, till everyone is paid. Everyone receives a full day’s pay. But not all are happy, some are grumbling.
Who is grumbling? The early birds. They have their eyes on themselves and their rights. They say, “This isn’t fair. We worked in this heat.” But most of the workers worked in the heat. Those who came at nine and at noon were in the vineyard and under the scorching sun, just as much as those who started at six in the morning. Others had felt the heat of the day. But they are not grumbling, only the early birds. In spite of what is said about the heat, it must be something else.
The distinction between the grumblers and the non-grumblers wasn’t who had worked in the heat, and who hadn’t. What was it? Other then the time of day they started, what was different about the early birds? This -- they struck a bargain with the Master: we will work, if you pay us for our work.
The early birds came to the Master’s vineyard on their terms. They got going, and they bargained with the Master. They would come to His vineyard, and work, but He would have to give them what they deserved. That’s the early bird way. That’s the American way. Work hard. Be better. And you will get what you deserve. A full prevailing wage. They had earned the wage. Or so they thought.
The Master, however, knew better. Listen to His words, “I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.” He did not say, “as I pay to you,” but “as I give to you.” The Master knew that even calling them to His vineyard, early that morning, was a gift.
But the early birds weren’t about to receive a gift. They were determined to make it on their own. It was a matter of pride. They were independent, self-made, and self-absorbed. They rally together, and go to the boss. “This isn’t fair! We have worked harder and longer than all those guys. We did more, we should get more, we deserve more!”
“I have paid you what was owed you. I have given you exactly what you deserve,” said the Master. “Now take your pay, and get out of here.” And He sent them away. The Master told them to take their wage and go. Go away. The relationship, such as it was, was over. Leave the vineyard, leave the kingdom of heaven. The early birds got the worm alright. Go away and die. In the grave. In the darkness. Where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. They would not receive the Master’s gift. They relied on their work, their effort. They did not rely on His promise, but they relied on themselves. They received what they deserved, and so much less than what could have been theirs.
Notice how the other workers entered into the vineyard. Yes, the Master went out and sought and found them, just as He did the early birds. But unlike the early birds, no deal, no bargain, was made with the Master. He promised, “I will give you what is just and fair.” They trusted Him, and entered into His vineyard. The latecomers receive a full day’s pay! As does everyone. He promised to give them what was fair, that is, what is just and right. And He did! It certainly was more than they deserved. They had not earned it. It was a gift from Him.
Our Lord gives to us generously as well. We pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” not “Pay us.” And He does. “He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.” As Scripture says, it is He who gives us the ability to produce wealth, to earn a living. He has created us, gives us breath and life, health, skill and ability.
So our Lord provides for us, each and every day in our lives. Sometimes we forget that. The Lord has freely given us life and salvation in Christ. Sometimes we forget that too. Life doesn’t all go well. Life can be hard, painful, and difficult.
So much that it prompts us to say, I don’t deserve this, God. Or other times, when life is good, the early bird in us can find another worm. I’m a churchgoer. I’m a Christian. I give. I may make mistakes, but I deserve to be forgiven. I’ve earned that right. We try to worm our own way out of our sin. We know that greatness of His grace, but we ignore the reality of our own depravity.
It is self-righteous indignation, like the early birds of the parable. And that’s the point. Those who trusted the Master, receive what He promised to give. What is right – righteousness. A righteousness that is His to freely give to all who trusted in Him. We trust His Word – and He gives us righteousness, a righteousness we desperately need and could never earn.
The others – the ones called later throughout the day -- they could not do much, they could not earn their way. Why did the Master call them to the vineyard, to the kingdom of heaven? Because He knew they needed His provision. And He provided, even as He provides for us: fully, abundantly, and graciously. At the end of the day, and at the end of our lives.
These other workers, they were not sent away. They were in the Master’s house, in His vineyard, the kingdom of heaven. They entered by trust in His word of promise; that He would do what is right, what is just. And He justified them. He gives us His word that He will give us that which is right – righteousness – the promise of grace by the blood of His Son on Calvary. We are in the Master’s house, in His vineyard, the kingdom of heaven. Even as He called us to His kingdom, He seeks for others who will trust Him, who will trust His Word, whether in the morning, noonday, afternoon, or twilight. And He provides, both now, and in the age to come.
Amen.
S. D. G.
