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Nov 09, 2022 18:30pm

We Don’t Deserve It

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A friend of mine got a new job. This was a great opportunity for her and was a big step out of her comfort zone. I was proud of her and for her. But I could hear the talks behind her back.

“Why would they choose her?”

Perhaps it was jealousy or feelings of their own inadequacies, but instead of supporting her, they tore her down behind her back and waited for her to fail.

But she didn’t. In fact, she was doing a great job.

You’ve probably experienced a similar situation. Even Jesus used a situation much like this to teach about an important subject: salvation.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: 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 20:1-16)

Why were these workers upset? Because they had worked longer, and maybe even harder, than the others and yet they all received the same. I can hear the murmurs “Why should he get the same as us? We should get more! We’ve worked longer! We’ve done more! We deserve more! They don’t even deserve this!”

None of us are worthy. Salvation is by God’s grace alone (Eph. 2:8-9). It is for all who humble themselves before the Lord and believe in Him. Not just those that have a high status. Not just those that have always lived a clean and “good” life. Salvation is for ALL who choose to believe.

Jonah was instructed to tell the Ninevites about God. But he refused and ran because they were horrible, detestable people and he didn’t think they deserved God’s love.

Do our actions and words mimic Jonah’s? Do we think the Gospel is only for those that “deserve” it?

None of us deserve what God has done for us. We ALL deserve His wrath.

The rich, the poor, the healthy, the sick, the sober, the drunkard, the white, the black, the Hispanic, the Asian, the meek, the boasters… ALL need to hear of God’s beautiful story and offer of redemption!

Share it today. It’s not about who we think is worthy, it’s the fact that GOD is worthy to be praised by a multitude!