You probably know the parable, the
one about the vineyard workers (Mt. 20:1-16).
The landowner picked workers throughout the hot day, starting in the morning.
At day’s end, he paid them all the same regardless of what hour they’d
started.
Naturally, the laborers picked in
the morning were burned, in more ways than one.
They were upset at working harder for a lower hourly wage. They thought they’d been treated unfairly.
The landowner rebuffed their
grumbling. They’d gotten what they’d
bargained for. Further, he asserted his
right to do what he wanted with his money: in this instance, to pay everyone
the same amount regardless of when they’d started.
“Are you envious because I am
generous?” he asked.
