Read
Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
Matthew 20:15
Reflect
Imagine this scenario. Bob and Tim both live their lives pretty much the way they want to for a lot of years. But one day, Bob decides that following God is a pretty good idea, and he gives his life to Christ. Meanwhile, Tim keeps doing his own thing.
The years go by, and Bob has become a devoted Christian. He serves in the church, shares his faith and is an all-around good guy. Tim, however, has gone the other direction. In doing his own thing, he has had a string of bad relationships, is an alcoholic and has been thrown in jail several times. It is there that Tim finally understands the Gospel, and turns his life over to Jesus.
That night, Tim is released from jail, and on the way home, he and Bob have a head-on collision, killing both of them instantly.
The question is this: Which one will the Lord let into heaven? And the bigger question is this: Assuming He lets both of them in, which one gets the greater share of heavenly rewards?
That’s what today’s passage is all about. Jesus tells the story of workers hired to do a job for a specific wage. Later in the day, other workers are hired, and they’re paid the same wage. The first workers are angry, feeling they should have been paid more, but the master’s point is, “Why should you care what I paid someone else as long as you got the pay you deserved?”
His point is that it doesn’t matter when you show up to the family of God, as long as you show up. God doesn’t love anyone less just because they took longer to accept Him. If you accepted Christ when you were 99 years old, the Lord has the same love for you as the child who accepted him when they were four. (Of course, it’s a big chance to wait until you’re 99, but that’s another story…)
Today, pray that the Lord will give you His heart for all believers, regardless of when and where they came to faith.
Reflection copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
