Monday Memo 1208: The Right Pay

Jesus told a parable that pertained to Gentiles coming into God's Kingdom along with the Jews, and used these words to start the parable:

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went" (Matthew 20:1-4).

I'm using this passage because of the wording, for Jesus said the landowner, who represents God, sends the workers into the vineyard (which is the Kingdom) and promises to pay them what is "right." Obviously the workers trust the landowner, for they go to work.

Later in the story, they complain that those who came later in the day got the same pay, but that lesson is for another time. The point here is that the story is based on the landowner's credibility that he would and could follow through on his promise to pay. That is exactly the same premise that has been the foundation for this series on your purpose and finances. Let me explain.

Throughout these lessons, you have seen that God is the one who pays you, not your company, ministry, or overseer. Your work is not a professional or career assignment but rather an aspect of God's kingdom assignment for your life. You go where He wants you to go and while you are there, you model and follow the rules of the Kingdom as you work.

In return for your service to Him, the King agrees to pay you and uses your company or ministry to do so. Therefore, it's not the organization's largesse or faithfulness that pays you; it's the King or God Himself who does so. And He promises to pay you what is "right," but it's His prerogative to determine what that is.

So who are you working for? Who ultimately pays the bills and provides the food for you and your family? It's God. Who hired you? God did. Who sets the wage you receive? God does. This is important because when you settle that in your mind, you can go wherever God sends you. Money is not the issue; God's promise is the issue. You can be confident that He is the One who pays you and can use or not use where and for whom you are working to cover your needs. He can supplement your income through other miraculous means.

This truth sets you free to be God's agent who is not for hire, at least not by the earthly entity that employs you. God is your employer and payroll master, and He promises to pay you what is right. Jesus clearly established the terms for every Kingdom worker when He said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [food, clothing, shelter, transport] will be given [not earned] to you as well" (emphasis add). Have a blessed week.