God's "11th Hour" Compensation Plan

"Today's Devotion" For August 2, 2005

Read: Matthew 20:1-16; I Thessalonians 4:1-18

GOD'S "11th HOUR" COMPENSATION PLAN

"'Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for Me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good? So the last will be first and the first will be last." (Mt. 20:14-16)

If you live in Wisconsin these days, also known as "Packerland," you are aware that training camp for the upcoming NFL season has begun. The big news about the Green Bay Packers has revolved around a number of players who were threatening to hold out for better contracts. The debate about their wishes was hot and heavy. A few have contracts they wish to renegotiate for more money. Some needed new contracts. Still others are rookies and recent draft choices which had to settle their first contract negotiations. Not a few Packer fans were upset that one player in particular, with two years still on his contract and most of the money having been "paid ahead," was looking for a new deal before he'd play this year. For many people, looking at the multi-million dollar compensation of today's professional athletes, such "holding out" doesn't sit well. Without commenting about the reasonableness of such high compensation (which I believe is an issue for the marketplace), it seems quite safe to say that the average person, earning a living wage and seeing these athletes' behavior about honoring their contracts wonders "who these guys think they are." "After all," as a number of letters to the editors have noted, "What makes these guys so much better than the rest of us that they don't have to honor their contracts?"

In reality, all of us seek a fair compensation for our work. It's a necessity to put food on the table, a roof over our heads, and clothes on our backs. At the same, human beings are very much like the workers in the vineyard of Jesus' parable. People like being paid more than others. While people might debate the compensation of pro athletes, CEO's, and other highly paid people, very few of those same people would turn their backs on the same compensation if it were to come their way. Sin brings out the greed in people. As in the parable, we human beings tend to believe that he who works longest and hardest should be paid the most.

That's the issue facing the disciples as they struggle to receive Jesus' words of grace and mercy to the world. These men, basically "unlearned," had given up everything to follow Jesus. He had already warned them that they were going to experience the same persecution He was facing after His death. They were going to put in the work, the blood, the sweat, and the tears and they were going to suffer for it. Their final reward wasn't going to be fabulous wealth, fame and prestige, or even a comfortable life. Instead they could expect to be hated and reviled, and many of them would be martyred for their faithfulness in following Jesus. So it isn't a stretch to imagine how difficult Jesus' parable was for them to swallow, for Jesus was telling them that even those who came to Him at their last breath, He would receive to Himself. God's method of payment isn't for "services rendered" but simply a matter of His grace - His unmerited favor. Jesus' words remind us that God's Plan of Salvation is His prerogative. He gives to whom He chooses, when He chooses. Jesus describes it as the "last will be first and the first last."

There is great satisfaction in ministering to a dying person who finally comes to know Jesus as Lord and Savior just at the moment of death. I can't begin to describe the peace and tranquility that has come over people who have believed in Jesus at their dying breath. You and I have received faith as a gift of God's grace. We haven't earned or deserved a thing we have received from Him. Christ paid the price for our redemption from Sin and the forgiveness we receive each day. He earned our salvation. Not us. By the power of the washing of the water and the Word in Holy Baptism, the Holy Spirit has made us God's very own children. According to God's Will, the Holy Spirit comes to all kinds of people, at different times in their lives and calls them to faith in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The Spirit calls us to receive the Father's grace and every blessing through faith in Christ. I don't know about you, but I really don't want to get hooked into being angry that someone goes to heaven even though he has never served God for even a day in his life. If God, in His infinite wisdom, and according to His grace, wants to grant His forgiveness in the "11th Hour" of someone's life, then "Praise the Lord!" Together let's just be thankful that He has already called you and me so that we can be blessed by working in His kingdom throughout our lives.

Prayer: Father, it's difficult for me to not be jealous of others who seem to have more than me. As a sinner I also know that I can also be jealous of those who come to confess Jesus at their dying breath, while I've served You all my life. Forgive me for such jealousy and help me to remember that all that I have, including faith in Jesus, are Your gifts to me - neither earned or deserved but freely given by Your grace and love. Help me to avoid jealousy when Your Word and Spirit brings people to faith in Jesus at the last moment of their lives and lead me to rejoice and give thanks that the Holy Spirit doesn't give up on those who don't hear You until there's no further hope. Help me to revel in the grace I have received through faith in Jesus, so that I might share it with others who don't yet know Him as their Lord and Savior. In His precious and most holy name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.