Last will be first

Most of us know that the famous phrase, "The last will be first" traces back to Jesus.  But, what did Jesus mean by this expression?  The expression occurs in Matthew 19:30 and 20:16.  In that place in Matthew's gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard.  Remember the story?  Each laborer is hired at a different time during the day, but they are paid the one denarius promised at the end of the day.  They all received the same pay off, even though some only worked one or two hours in the fields.  So what is Jesus teaching us?

In God's kingdom, many truths are important, but the greatest principle is the truth of God's grace.  In fact, "grace" is what makes Christianity unique.  In Christ, God offers to us unmerited favor and kindness.  In the parable, those hired last received the same wage or "reward" as those hired first.  Don't get hung up asking "is that fair?", because the owner was just in the story.    From God's perspective, the most important thing is that they were all hired and received a reward.  The parable emphasizes God's amazing grace.

In his book, “What’s So Amazing About Grace,” Phillip Yancey points out that part of our problem with understanding grace is in the nature of grace itself. Grace is scandalous. It’s hard to accept, hard to believe, and hard to receive. Grace shocks us in what it offers. It is truly not of this world. It frightens us with what it does for sinners-you and me.

The next time God offers you grace, take it.  The next time God offers grace to someone you think doesn't deserve it, rejoice in God's grace.  Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that our relationship with Christ Jesus is all about grace.  I'm thankful for God's grace in my life and I hope you are too.