I’ll admit it: I struggle sometimes with these thoughts about fairness, privilege, and envy. Given the right circumstances (not to make excuses for myself!), so do most people. For me it was just last night. I went to the airport to pick up Diane. I got there early enough that I had to circle around and come back to the active loading arrivals area. When I arrived the second time, I somehow got waved to the front of the line of cars waiting for arriving passengers. Sure enough, as soon as I got to that space I was waved on; I had been there for 15 seconds. The other cars had been there waiting before I had arrived. They were going to get to stay. I was going to have to drive through again! It wasn’t fair! Just as I was complaining to the traffic cop, Diane walked out of the terminal, and I was able to remain – actively loading her luggage and her into the car. But before we were done, the traffic cop told me I was talking like a third grader for pointing out the inequity of the situation: “They were there first; they should have had to move on and allowed me to stay.” Guilty as charged.
Workers take a break from the heat of the day.
A “Looky-Lou” is someone who is always looking at the “Johnny-Come-Lately” with resentment. “Good-For-Me-Gracie” is happy for good fortune when it is hers, but not so much when it goes to others. Lous and Gracies such as those won’t be happy with the Kingdom of God. For the grace of God levels all ground and removes any claim for special privilege from the equation of God’s favor. Laborers who work the whole day are graced by being hired (ask anyone who is unemployed if they’d consider a job for a fair wage to be a blessing!). And if you come in late you may not expect a full-day’s wage. But most would not turn it down. The problem comes when we try to judge ourselves in comparison to others. God’s grace is not metered on the curve of relativism. He simply is gracious.
When we realize, however, that we are all recipients of a grace far more needed than we imagine, we will be fit for God’s kingdom. Maybe then we can escape the third grade thinking that is more consumed with envy and fretful self-centeredness, than with love and faithful thankfulness for the goodness and grace of God.
Matthew 20:1-16
[Jesus says,] “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 5So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ 7They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 8And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 9And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, 12saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16So the last will be first, and the first last.”
David Bahn - Reflections 
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