The Comparison Game
As many of you know, I am a big Brewers fan and am beginning to think about the very real possibility of them being in the playoffs and possibly making it to the World Series. How do you think I would feel as a lifelong fan of the Brew Crew if I knew someone who didn't care about baseball whatsoever but was able to go to the first World Series game the Brewers have been in since 1982 while I (as was also the case in 1982) did not have the opportunity to go? I'm sure there would be a part of me that would be quite jealous, thinking, "It's not fair! I've been dedicated to this team my whole life. This means something to me, whereas he or she couldn't care less! I never get anything!" The fact of the matter is, I have been blessed (and continue to be) with many things, yet it's so easy to play the comparison game and think I'm not being treated fairly.
This weekend's reading from Matthew 20 is a parable told by Jesus about a landowner who finds people to work in his field and, at the end of the day, ends up paying everyone the same wage even though some have worked the entire day and others much less time. Through the story, Jesus points out the amazing grace of our loving Lord who would much rather save people and give all the same joy and happiness of heaven, no matter how long on this earth they have been followers of Jesus.
But there is something else to be learned. In our sinfulness, we sometimes base our worth on all the things we have done for God and what we deserve from Him rather than celebrating who He is and what He does in His grace and compassion for us. When we center on ourselves and find our identity in what we do, we start playing the comparison game and think about what we are worth compared to others. But when instead we live in thankfulness to a loving and generous God who has done for us in Jesus what we could never do for ourselves, we rejoice in a God who continues to call people to Him that they might enjoy heaven with us. We aren't jealous that they get the same as us. Instead, we celebrate a God who has such amazing grace.