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Christ’s Object Lessons
in regard to wages. They trusted to his justice and equity. They were
rewarded, not according to the amount of their labor, but according to
the generosity of his purpose.
So God desires us to trust in Him who justifieth the ungodly. His
reward is given not according to our merit but according to His own
purpose, “which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Ephesians
3:11
. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but accord-
ing to His mercy He saved us.”
Titus 3:5
. And for those who trust in
Him He will do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.”
Ephesians 3:20
.
Not the amount of labor performed or its visible results but the
spirit in which the work is done makes it of value with God. Those
who came into the vineyard at the eleventh hour were thankful for an
opportunity to work. Their hearts were full of gratitude to the one who
had accepted them; and when at the close of the day the householder
paid them for a full day’s work, they were greatly surprised. They knew
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they had not earned such wages. And the kindness expressed in the
countenance of their employer filled them with joy. They never forgot
the goodness of the householder or the generous compensation they
had received. Thus it is with the sinner who, knowing his unworthiness,
has entered the Master’s vineyard at the eleventh hour. His time of
service seems so short, he feels that he is undeserving of reward; but
he is filled with joy that God has accepted him at all. He works with a
humble, trusting spirit, thankful for the privilege of being a co-worker
with Christ. This spirit God delights to honor.
The Lord desires us to rest in Him without a question as to our
measure of reward. When Christ abides in the soul, the thought of
reward is not uppermost. This is not the motive that actuates our
service. It is true that in a subordinate sense we should have respect to
the recompense of reward. God desires us to appreciate His promised
blessings. But He would not have us eager for rewards nor feel that
for every duty we must receive compensation. We should not be so
anxious to gain the
“Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that
watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that
planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall
receive his own reward according to his own labour. For