More Than a Story
“God Is Not Fair!”
Matthew 20:1-16

Fair is getting what we deserve.

Matthew 20:1-16

God is more loving, and more generous than we deserve!
God blesses us far beyond what we deserve.

“…many who are first will be last, and the last first.” –Jesus, Matthew 19:30

First 
The self-reliant 
The self-righteous 
Those who demand what they deserve 

Last
The humble
The surrendered
Those who know they deserve nothing 

The Kingdom of Heaven (God)
Is contrary to the “kingdom of this world”
Lifts the last to first.
May seem unfair, which is best  

Fair is getting what we deserve.
Do you want what is fair?
	
6:00 AM >> 1 denarius
9:00 AM >> 1 denarius
12:00 PM >> 1 denarius
3:00 PM >> 1 denarius
5:00 PM >> 1 denarius 

“…they grumbled…” –Matthew 20:11

It’s easy to become a “grumbler.”
	
Take notice:
1. Master did not go against his word.

Parable:  
Master agreed to pay a denarius for the day

God’s word:
God promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6)
God tells us that we will have trouble (John 16:33)

Take notice:
2. No one got less than they deserve 
We will never get less than we deserve from God
We deserve nothing!
It is so amazing that we get more than we deserve 

3. Grumbling is the result of someone else getting more than they deserve 

The “master” is more loving and generous than expected.
	
This parable is not about:
Salvation – the fact is that some may surrender their lives later than others 
Equality – no matter when you come to faith in Jesus, we all are equal

God will give rewards in heaven at the “bema,” or the judgment seat of Christ, based on our faithfulness in service to Him (2 Corinthians 5:10). The rewards will show the reality of our sonship (Galatians 4:7) and the justice of God (Hebrews 6:10). God will give rewards in heaven to fulfill the law of “sowing and reaping” (Galatians 6:7-9) and make good on His promise that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

God is unfair.
We should be amazed that He is!
He is more loving, and more generous than we deserve.

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

Surrender to Jesus, and you’ll see … God is “unfair” in the best way: He loves and gives far more than we deserve.