Morning Devotional 020426 What is Fair?

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

February 4, 2026

Matthew 20:8-16

“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and moving on finally to the first.’ 9 When those who were hired at five in the afternoon came, each one received a denarius. 10 Now, when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarion. 11 When they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 ‘These who were hired last worked one hour, and they received the same pay as we did even though we had to work the whole day in the hot sun.’ 13 “But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I did you no wrong. Didn’t I agree to pay you a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I want to give to the one who was hired last the same as I give to you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you resentful because I’m generous?’ 16 So those who are last will be first. And those who are first will be last.”

Good Morning! God is generous to all.

“That isn’t fair!” Anyone who has spent time around children has heard that phrase more times than they care to remember. Even as we get older, we might not shout it out, but we think it when a situation doesn’t go as we expect. When you do everything right, and still the outcome goes in favor of the other side, how is that fair?”

Fairness often causes great challenges when a loved one passes away, and family members fight over what is rightfully theirs. It is difficult to reconcile the idea that the last will be first, and the first shall be last. 

Whenever I find the teachings of Jesus difficult to comprehend, I give myself the grace of letting the words sit with me. I do this by rereading them, praying on them, and examining them through different perspectives. In this case, I think of being the first hired, the last hired, and even the generous landowner, and then I consider each of these as if I were Jesus. WWJD 

We must always remember that our God loves us unconditionally, is generous, merciful, and by God’s grace, we are heirs to God’s kingdom. Everything else pales in comparison.

Redeeming Lord, you bless us abundantly! It is so easy for us to question the fairness of things. Thank you for showing us a new way to think. Thank you. We love you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: There is an abundance of grace, and God gives it generously.

God loves us! Pastor Liz