It was a common saying in our household growing up. With any given scenario of the day, Dad would say to us kids; “Do you want to be first?” Uh, who doesn’t want to be first? We all aspire and clamor for first place, top billing, numero uno – especially as young kids trying to make our way in the world.
So, in response to Dad’s question, we naturally said; “Yes!” And his reply? Was a consistent “Then you are last.” Huh? What a cruel joke to play on a young kid. You asked me a question and I answered it.
But it goes even further and perhaps deeper than that.
The follow up question which inevitably came, appeared to be a riddle of sorts; “Do you want to be last?” Hmmm…Do I want to be last? How do I answer this? What would a wise young kid say at this moment? “Yes, I want to be last!” There, you have it. I want to be last, thinking for sure this would mean that I would be first. I win, Dad loses. And Dad’s response, “Great, then you are last.”
It was a reoccurring saying and joke that came up time and time again. But it was also a life lesson, a deep lesson in life about where you stand and where you should want to stand in the eyes of God. Who am I to demand a first place position with God? What have I done to earn any place with God and is it enough?
My earthly Father was not in the position to promote me to first place and he knew it. I was appointed last and it is only God who has authority to name my reward. In the Gospel reading this week, Jesus make it clear; “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matthew 20:1-16). The challenge for all of us is, we are not naturally wired to race for last place. But that is our call.
Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
the landowner found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
