Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard to further explain what the Kingdom of God is like.
A landowner goes out early in the morning and hires men, agreeing to pay them the daily rate - a silver coin for a day’s work.
He hires them at various times throughout the day - 9 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm and promises all of the workers a fair wage.
When the end of the day came, the landowner said to his manager to pay the workers, starting with those who had been hired last. Those who began working at 5 pm were given the daily rate - one silver coin.
When it came to those who had been hired first (early in the morning) they thought that they were going to receive more. When they too were given the standard daily wage they began to grumble. They were angry because they had done a lot more work than those who had started later in the day.
The landowner did not listen to their complaints and reminded them that they had agreed to the daily rate of pay when they were hired. He said, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
The landowner then says, “The last will be first and the first will be last.”
- o -
The first time Pandemic breaks, I was looking for a job online. After several days of attempts, I found one, let's call it Virtual Assistant Company One, and after a while after I have my interview, and got an e-mail that I failed the interview. Then another e-mail came that I am welcome to another Virtual Assistance company and let's call it Virtual Assistant Company Two, then I met several people that became my friends. All of us while waiting for opportunities to be called for final interview, we're just like hanging out with each other over Zoom, but then one by one they were called to work and I'm the one left alone.
For me to be self-sustained I tried to build up businesses like Delivery Service System from Baguio, Metro Manila, and Davao City by simply hiring riders for a commission out of their delivery service but it's not working. Then I tried to partner with a guy in Cebu City with 10 years of experience in the BPO industry and we put up our own Virtual Company but it's not working as well due to lack of customers. Then I tried to reactivate our website as before and even buy a new domain name to introduce other non-essential products and let's just call it Goodie Goods Online Shop but it's not working too.
We got our bills filled-up to the point that we have pressures coming in from our landlord a leasing company. To my disappointment, I would like to go beyond and not to go back but I cannot. Then a small voice from within me told me to go back to my previous where we just hanging out. I'm not a typical person who just goes back, but I'm a typical type of person that if you don't want me I just move forward, but things are not in my favor, and I have to swallow my pride and apply again.
During my initial interview after I apply the position, I got excited since my interviewers were my previous folks that we're just hanging out. I prepared for this meeting with all my efforts including the demo database that I'm going to show them but to my surprise, it's just a casual interview. Then the final interview but when I was going to be interviewed the employer already decided not to interview the rest of the applicants and just take the first candidate.
On my second final interview another came in again ahead of me but still the employer just interviewing me for the sake of the interview, and his questions are like a harsh that I have to reason why I should be hired by him. I got discouraged and asked the LORD if it is actually for me or if He's leading me to another job. But something came in that very moment a thought that leads me to the Parable Story of the Workers in the Vineyard. Each worker agreed to be paid a one denarius for a day's work. There's a workers who came in the morning and there's a worker who came late in the afternoon but the employer welcomed him and allow him to join the work. And at the end of the day, each of them paid a denarius. What a comforting Words that came from our dear LORD, as if "My son I have to save the best work for you though you are the last" and I can relate to the person who receives the denarius as the same with the others for a lesser work. That's what the goodness of our LORD to His children!
It is my prayer that as we go to the journey of life w may be able to see GOD's goodness in our life regardless of what circumstances we are in. Since our living GOD can turn even disadvantages into advantages. He can turn the cross of defeat in the sight of Satan to the cross of victory! Amen.
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