"That's not fair!" Have you ever uttered those words? Maybe you've heard a youngster make that claim. Recently someone told me that whenever they told their dad, "That's not fair!" their father would respond, "That's right. Fair is that we would all go to hell."

Wow! That is a powerful lesson. I thought that was an overwhelming way to express the grace of God. Maybe someday I will be able to use that on my kids.

God's grace is the only thing that saves us. We don't deserve to go to heaven because our sins blocked our way. Thank God that he is not fair! He acts out of love and grace, so that we might be saved.

We have another one of Jesus' parables before us this morning. Just prior to this parable, Jesus taught the rich man a lesson. The rich man could not earn his way to heaven with good works. The disciples then asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied that with God all things are possible.

Of course this sent Peter's mind racing. If God could get anyone to heaven no matter what they had done, where did this leave the disciples? Peter said that he and the other eleven had given up everything to follow Jesus. Shouldn't they receive more than others? Weren't their good works worth anything, maybe some extra blessings here on earth or more glory in heaven?

Our Savior had a remarkable way of teaching spiritual truths to his disciples. He used such common illustrations that all people could relate to. A man needed laborers to work in his vineyard. So he went to the marketplace at about 6 AM to hire some people. This was a common practice in those days as it is in some place in our country today. Maybe some of our farmers here today have done this, when it is time to bring the harvest in. The owner of the vineyard promised a generous, but common wage for their labor that day.

But after a few hours, he noticed that he needed more workers. So he hired more men at 9 AM. That was enough so he went back and hired more men at noon, at 3 PM, and at 5 PM. He just hired the men. There were no prerequisites or interviews. He took the initiative to hire these men, just as the Lord takes the initiative to call his disciples to work.

The owner of the vineyard had a generous heart. He paid each of the workers the same amount, even though some of those men had labored in the sun all day long. Can you imagine if this happened today? The labor unions in Michigan would have a field day with this parable.

The people who were hired last were paid first. Those who were hired first had to stand and watch the others get paid the same amount as them. They complained to their boss. They felt it was quite unfair. The landowner was quick to rebuke them. "Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?"

If Peter wanted to cry out to Jesus, "It's not fair!" because the disciples had given up everything to follow him, Jesus responded bluntly with this parable. God could do whatever he wanted to do with his blessings. He rewards his people, not on the merits of their good works, but with his good grace, an undeserved love.

Too often we, as believers, wear hats that say, "arrogance, envy, sinful pride, or dissatisfaction." We go around yelling, "It's not fair!" Have you ever thought, "I have been a Christian all my life. I have served God in this congregation for years. Why should we cater to these new people who just came to our church?" Have you ever been just a little jealous that God has blessed someone else who you don't think deserves it? Have you ever been so arrogant to think that you are a better Christian than someone else? Does your sinful pride tell you that God should love you and reward you?

Thank God that he is not fair! For we are told point blank that all have sinned. Yes, you are included. We are also told that the wages of sin is death. That is death in hell. If you set your sights on God's justice, that he will be fair, tragically you will receive his justice. The wages for our sins is not good. On payday we should receive eternal suffering and torment. That is a huge problem.

Don't expect God's generosity to mold to your idea of good and fair. If you look at only what you have done for the Lord, you will be last. You will lose. That is why everyone needs to hear of God's grace. God's grace, his undeserved love is the huge solution to our huge problem.

If we want to cry out, "It's not fair!" then we are partly right. It wasn't fair that Jesus had to lower himself to be born in a humble stable and live on this earth as man. It wasn't fair that Jesus had to die on the cross to bear the sins of the world. But yet in humility, Jesus lived and died for us. And in glory he rose from the dead so that God's grace might be showered on all who believe in him as their Savior. It is not fair. God's love comes to us even though we do nothing to deserve it. Salvation is ours even though we have not done one good work to earn it.

God is almighty, all knowing, and full of love. He showers his grace on whomever he wants. He pours out grace by forgiving our sins. We've received a wage we did not deserve.

So how do we respond to the undeserved love of God? It is simple. Praise and thank God for his grace on us. Praise him with your prayers and hymns. Lift your voices in thanksgiving to our generous Master.

And rejoice in others who have been blessed by God. As Pastor Keller reminded us last week, part of that rejoicing is giving up your grudges. You can't rejoice in the blessings of others if you are holding a grudge. That means you have to take off your arrogance hats, your envy hats, your sinful pride hats, and those hats that say "dissatisfaction." Take them off and I bet you will find it so easy to rejoice in the blessings of others.

After all, God doesn't owe us anything. So let us joyfully work together in his vineyard. Let us all join forces to spread the message that God is not fair, but he is full of grace. If we praise God for our salvation, if we rejoice in the blessings of others each day, if we can work together for the good of his kingdom, we can be part of that great harvest of souls.

Peter and the disciples got this awesome lesson from Jesus' parable. In God's kingdom work, be reminded not to do things just for the reward. Rather do good deeds out of submission to our gracious Savior. Thank God he is not fair. Thank him for his grace. AMEN.