People who worked
for one hour
are paid the same fair days wages
as those who worked
a twelve hour day.
Why does it sound unfair?
We know it isn't unfair
because Our Lord
uses this parable to tell us
something about ourselves.
[PAUSE]
The person who seems
to come in for the most criticism
is the Employer
who justifies himself
by saying that he has a right
to do with his money
as he pleases.
You agree with that, yes?
You can do what you like
with your own possessions.
But then...
How do you feel
about that statistic
that a handful of people
control the majority
of the wealth in the world?
Aren't they allowed
to hoard their money
and use it for their own purposes
which may,
or may not,
be godly?
[PAUSE]
Some of us are very good
at deciding what
other people should do
with their money.
When we see
a rich man pass by a collecting tin
without putting something in,
we grumble something about
camels passing through eyes of needles.
When we see
a rich man put something into
that collecting tin,
we grumble that he's making a show
of his wealth
in false generosity.
The rich man can't win.
But we don't want him to, do we?
[PAUSE]
There are two things
that Our Lord teaches us
about money and possessions.
The first is
that we should render unto Caesar
that which is Caesar's
and unto God
that which is God's.
Material things
matter most for those
who are materially minded.
Bills must be paid.
Tax must be paid.
Debts must be paid.
This is true for all of us.
While they may be
important
they are not what defines
our relationship with God.
God's claim
on our lives
is greater than
Barclay's Bank's claim
on our overdraft.
This leads to Our Lord's second point.
Those who have been given much
will be expected to show much interest
on God's investment.
God wants us
to bear good fruit
and has given us the means
to grow it.
He will not expect growth
from where He has not given.
So the rich man
will always find himself
required to give an account
of what he is doing for his wealth.
But this account
will not be rendered to us,
but to God.
[PAUSE]
Those who labour all day
receive the agreed generous daily wage,
but their eyes
are on other people's
wages.
Their outrage
comes from envy
and pride in their assumption
that their time is worth more
in their own eyes
than was agreed.
Notice also
that the Employer himself
is making use
of what he has.
He may earn more money
as a result,
but so do his employees.
The wealth is not
buried in a field,
mattress
or investment fund.
It is being used
and everyone benefits.
[PAUSE]
It might sicken us
to see celebrities
living the high life
in yachts,
drinking champagne
and eating Ferrero Richer,
but that money is going somewhere.
It is being rendered unto Caesar.
What concerns us
as Christians
is what is being rendered to God.
In that sense,
that's the rich man's problem
and not ours.
[PAUSE]
We should not allow
other people's use of their wealth
to distract us
from using what we have
to the glory of God.
We should not allow
other people's expenditure
to tempt us to judge
another person
in a way that will judge us
in the same way.
It is what we do
with the wealth that
we have been given
that matters more
to us eternally
than other people's business.
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