Rev Roger Baker’s theme last Sunday was the scandalous generosity of God.
His text was Matthew 20, the workers in the vineyard. We constantly measure fairness, equating reward with effort.
Jesus dismantles that approach to show the generosity of God, his grace through redemption on the cross.
In this parable the landlord promises reward but his evaluation of service is not based on human
calculations. Like the landlord, who kept going back until all workers were employed, God seeks
us first and goes on until all are gathered in. God is motivated by love, not by our performance.
Some respond to him early in life, others much later but the result is the same.
His gifts, much more than we deserve, are freely given, available to all, not earned. This calls for
humility. The workers who toiled all day begrudged the equal reward for latecomers, but the
landlord kept his word to them. Bitterness kills joy and destroys relationships. God’s grace is given
regardless of service and sins are cancelled. We are called to welcome latecomers. All are equal in
the sight of God.