Grace for the needy
In his resignation letter, former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has publicly questioned the sincerity of the government’s claim that in regard to austerity measures ‘We are all in it together’. For those struggling to make ends meet, even a small drop in income can have a profound effect, especially upon those receiving welfare benefits and in particular the disabled. Trying to assist disabled people find jobs is not a simple thing and to reduce financial support in the meantime only adds to their burden. It would appear that Iain Duncan Smith feels this keenly.
Many disabled people of working age would love to be engaged in fulfilling employment. To work hard and so be rewarded is all part of God’s creative plan for us. If we sow hard work we should expect to reap the satisfaction of being able to provide for our needs and, yes to some extent, the needs of others. Indeed, earning enough money to pay taxes is one way of providing for the needs of others.
Now, let me throw in a grenade to explode a misconception. Because hard work ought to be rewarded with fair wages, some people think that if we work reasonably hard in the moral and religious realm then, come the heavenly pay day (Judgement Day), God will credit us with a place in heaven. Jesus tells a controversial parable to turn this thinking upside down...
A landowner went to the labour exchange at the start of the day and, having agreed to pay them a denarius for 12 hours work, he sent men into his field. He took on further workers three hours later saying he would pay them what was right. The landowner did the same at midday, three o’clock and five o’clock. At sunset, he proceeded to pay them starting with those who had spent 11 hours at the labour exchange and one hour in the field. They received a denarius. Seeing this, those who had laboured all day in the field assumed that they were in line for a bigger pay packet. But no, all were paid one denarius. Those that had done the bulk of the work were angry with the landowner, but he proceeded to point out that they had agreed the payment rate and so were not being treated unjustly. He then said rather pointedly, ‘Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine, or are you envious that I choose to be generous to these others?’
So what was Jesus driving at? Simply this, that God is willing and pleased to treat us according to our need and not according to what we assume we deserve. Jesus wants us to ponder how this generosity of God applies to our thinking when it comes to securing our eternal destiny. Are we looking to what we reckon we deserve from God or to his undeserved generosity? This generosity is what Christians call ‘Amazing Grace’.