Question

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. 3 "At nine o'clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o'clock he did the same thing.

6 "At five o'clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, 'Why haven't you been working today?' 7 "They replied, 'Because no one hired us.' "The landowner told them, 'Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.' 8 "That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 'Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.'

13 "He answered one of them, 'Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?' 16 "So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last."

1. Have you ever heard or used the phrase "sometimes life isn't fair". If there was ever a time to use it in the Bible, it would be this passage. This week you will learn about payroll. Every organization has clear policies and procedures about banking and payroll. However, sometimes policies and procedures can conflict with Kingdom living. Can you think of an example of this? Has God ever prompted your heart to give to someone more than was required?
2. Have you heard this saying, "Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone"? What does it mean to you?

Answer 1

Answer: Yes, I have heard about the phrase “Sometimes life isn’t fair” and have also got a chance to experience this. I worked as a part time worker at a supermarket chain. There were full time workers also there. Both full time and part time workers had to work for same hours and perform same type of jobs. The only difference was that part time workers were hired for only one month or similar period and they were mostly students who worked during their vacation for money. But the pay of the full time people was at least 25% more and they also enjoyed other benefits. I felt that it was wrong that they were paid more for same work though the other benefits were justified looking into the fact they worked all the year for the company. Yes, God has prompted me to give more to someone. Once, an old man asked me for work because he had no money and work. I asked him to paint the fence outside our house. He asked for 10$ for the work but after the work I gave him 15$ looking into his condition.

Yes I have heard the phrase “Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone “and for me it means that everyone desires to do something good to all the people in need. But as it is not always possible to do good for everyone around you hence one should at least do good to any one person around in need.