More Than Fair – September 25, 2026
Read: Matthew 20:1-16
Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? Matthew 20:15
More Than Fair
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
What would you buy if you had eight billion dollars? A mansion? A private airplane? An entire amusement park?
Chuck Feeney had that much money. But instead of spending it on himself, he quietly gave more than eight billion dollars away. He helped build hospitals and schools and helped people around the world. After giving away nearly all his fortune, the former billionaire didn’t even own a home. He lived in a rented apartment. Chuck Feeney was amazingly, extraordinarily, unbelievably generous.
The owner of the vineyard in Jesus’ story was amazingly, extraordinarily, and unbelievably generous. At first, he seemed like an ordinary boss. He promised to pay his workers a fair wage. But at the end of the day, workers who had labored for only one hour received a full day’s pay. That frustrated those who had worked all day in the hot sun. But the owner had not cheated them. They received exactly what he had promised. He simply decided to be amazingly generous with the workers hired last.
Sometimes a person follows Jesus throughout life, while someone else lives far from God but is brought to faith near the end of life. It can seem unfair that both receive the same eternal life. We are tempted to think: “We followed you all these years, Jesus, and they didn’t. That’s unfair!” It may feel unfair, but God has not taken anything away from us. He is simply being amazingly generous with them.
Even Christians who go to church every Sunday haven’t earned heaven. Believing in Jesus for many years does not make us more deserving than someone brought to faith near the end of life. We have all sinned and deserve God’s punishment.
The only reason any of us can go to heaven is God’s undeserved generosity. He gave his own Son for us. Jesus lived the perfect life we could not live and died the innocent death that saved us. In him, God gives us forgiveness and eternal life as a gift.
God is amazingly generous to those who come to believe at the end of their lives. Celebrate God’s generosity when he brings someone to faith—even at life’s last hour. God gives every believer more than what is fair!
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for being amazingly, extraordinarily, and unbelievably generous to us. Help us celebrate when you show that same generosity to others. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- Did the workers hired last receive less money or the same amount as the others?
- Why were the workers who worked all day upset?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- How would you have reacted if you were one of the guys who worked all day?
- In what ways has God been amazingly, extraordinarily, and unbelievably generous with you?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- Why shouldn’t it frustrate us when people who did terrible things or never went to church in their lives repent at the very end of their lives and believe in Jesus?
- If someone can be saved near the end of life, why is it foolish to plan on rejecting God now and repenting later?
