Contentment in the Kingdom of Grace

Photo Credit: Arpad Czapp

(By Theanna Joyce)

A few years ago, I was working a summer job that I enjoyed. My co-workers were nice, the work was mostly fun, and the hours were long, but the pay was good. I was quite content.

Then a new employee came on the scene, and some time later I found out that this worker was making more money than I was. Suddenly, my contentment disappeared and in its place was envy and disgruntlement.

Have you ever been in a situation like this? One where something—comparison or a change in circumstances—ruins your contentment? 

I decided to move on and not let it bother me, but for some reason that I couldn’t seem to grasp, it kept poking its way into my mind and disturbing my peace. 

Eventually, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard came to mind. Jesus told this parable following a discussion about riches in which the rich young ruler turns away from Jesus because he does not want to part with his many possessions, and the disciples are commended for their own sacrifice. 

The parable depicts a vineyard owner who goes out to the marketplace to find workers for his field. He does this early in the morning, and after agreeing on the payment of one denarius, a fair rate, brings them to his field.

Three hours later, he goes to the marketplace again and brings back more workers. Then again, he does this twice more and brings more workers.

At the close of the day, the vineyard owner pays the workers. He begins with those who started latest, paying them one denarius. 

As he moves through the line of workers, paying them each the agreed upon rate, those who started earlier are dissatisfied. They grumble that they should’ve received more money than the others since they had worked longer.

Yet the owner responds to them saying, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” (Matt 20:13-15).

This story Jesus tells reveals some part of the nature of the kingdom of heaven, in which the last will be first and the first last, and God is both just and generous. 

Whether Jesus is comparing the twelve disciples with those who would join His ministry later on, or the Jews and the Gentiles, or those who believe at a young age versus those who are saved later in life, the truth is the same: eternal life is the same for all who come to Him.

Furthermore, it reveals that life in the kingdom of God is not a competition to get your name higher on the scoreboard so that God will love you more or think you better than another of His children. It is all by grace. 

This parable cuts to the heart, through envy and pride, showing that there is no room for these in the kingdom of God. Instead, as we follow Him, He wants us to enjoy His generosity and live in contentment.  

When this parable came to my mind in the circumstances I was in, I felt convicted and relieved. Convicted, because I had to repent of my envy. Relieved, because of how clearly this parable showed me the way God wanted me to live—in contentment.

The pay I was receiving was the pay that I agreed to, and so I needed to remind myself of that. Now, I don’t think it would be wrong to ask for a raise if my work deserved it. Furthermore, if the workspace was unfair, then that’s something that would need to be addressed with wisdom and humility.

Yet as those who are a part of God’s kingdom, we cannot let our contentment be poisoned by envy. When comparisons creep in, and we notice seeds of envy disturbing our peace, let us turn to God in humility and remind ourselves of His incredible generosity. 

In Hebrews 13:5, we see this command repeated with a beautiful promise, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

Since the LORD is our God, since He is generous and will never forsake us, let us choose to be content.