The parable of the hired labourers in a vineyard of a householder best illustrates God’s perspective on the men and women who carryout services for His purposes. The householder hired several workers to work in his vineyard, “when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day”, although all were hired at different times of the day. For example, some were hired in the morning, others at noon, some in the afternoon and some in the evening. The Lord asked his “steward” at even to call the labourers and give them their wage of a penny each, beginning from the last that were hired in the evening unto the first. (Matthew 20:1-16).
When those who were hired in the morning saw that they received the same penny as they who were hired in the evening, they murmured against the Goodman of the house”, saying those who were hired last worked only one hour but were made “equal unto [them] which have borne the burden and heat of the day”. (Matthew 20:3-12). But he answered the query thus:
“…didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen”. (Matthew 20:13-16).
3. TRUST IN GOD’S DISCRETION AND POWER
