"Can't I do what I want with my own money? Or is your eye envious because I am good?" (Matt., ch. 20, v. 15*).
One of my children has an innate sense of fairness. He can be relied upon to divide treats so that everyone gets an equal share. When it comes to household chores, he insists that if he clears the table, then it's only fair that his sister washes the dishes.
I also tend to adhere to such strictness regarding fairness. However, when I reflect on this, I realize that the "fair" approach often relies on certain limiting factors: the children take turns because there is only one jump rope; we distribute the strawberries because there is only one handful left. But what if there were an unlimited number of treats, scooters, jump ropes, and trampolines for all the children? Who would worry about the number of strawberries eaten or the minutes each child gets to play with a given toy? No one, because there would be enough for everyone.
It’s easy for me to empathize with the sense of unfairness felt by the workers hired in the morning in the vineyard parable told by Christ (Matt., ch. 20, v. 1-16). They receive the same pay as those who work just a few hours, and it doesn't seem fair. However, the answer given by the Lord Jesus is not based on fairness. Instead, He highlights the generosity of our heavenly Father. God's grace is inexhaustible and abundant. God always gives us more than enough.
Link to the original article: https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2026-02-04
* Biblical quotes are from The Bible, a new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013