Who Is Last?

“So the last will be first ,and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16

Competitors are only concerned with who won. The question of who was last is only relevant to those who have vested interest in the competition. The ones who are first have minimal interest in the story of who is last until they hear variations of the above quoted verse. The focus is reversed and seems fly up in our face ,mocking achievement and common sense. The parable found in the 20th chapter of the book of Matthew told by Jesus causes me to pause. I had the advantage of working for a corporation for 30 years. My experience over those last few years of my career with the corporation has a close resemblance to the reactions the first workers hired. I had expectations of being compensated for my longevity. Thankfully, I was compensated but many of those hired after me got promotions and raises. Many of them had more influence on work conditions and policies. Some had influence and higher earnings almost immediately. I would wine and cry “that’s not fair” (a favorite statement I heard from my daughter in her youth.) She would be correct about her assessment. I would like to think I had correct assessments about the my job as well. However, I had to remind myself what I would tell my daughter with regularity, “life ain’t fair”. You might be painfully aware of this obvious statement but, let’s focus on the author of the parable, Jesus.

Many times in life we can approach God with our “it ain’t fair” ,prayers because He is suppose to be a righteous judge. Yet this parable brings in focus how superior God is to our perspectives. He kept His word he hired and paid everyone what he promised. The greatest thing is God or the “land owner” searches us out and provides all an opportunity. Some came by a late message others by an early message but all were hired by the land owner. The state they all had experienced was unemployment and lack. You may find yourself looking around at your particular circumstances and think you have got the short end of the stick or no stick at all. Friends we must expand our focus to the sovereign God and humbly receive. If you have heard God call you out of the darkness into His light remember. Maybe you have not come to know Him and have found yourself on the corner needing what He can give. Humbly receive it and rejoice in Him.

Once we receive we can work effectively for the land owner. The work and compensation for the work is really an act of charity on the land owners part. The land owner has plans for his land and he is more generous than we might imagine. The market place or the world had left us out. The land owner didn’t overlook us! If you see people who have seemed to become fruitful in the Kingdom of God and yet your fruitfulness only resulted in a long drawn out process praise God for the upstarts because they are proof no one is working in vain.

Everyone can not do the same work. We are all unique for the work the Land Owner has in mind. Some must be first and out front and some must be last and unseen. The land owner is building and great business and the glorious thing is He is both the first and the last. He is our master and king yet He serves us all.

The first place athletes could not compete and organize the sporting events just because they are first. No the last and people who don’t get recognized help make the sporting event happen. Yes, honor the athletes who compete and win but, don’t think for a minute that the last place competitor is doomed or failed because if they hold on they will be first. The land owner has impeccable timing.