The Barefoot Evangelist

Read Matthew 20:1-16 with your family.

The workers who had been in the field since dawn had a point – why should those who showed up only an hour ago get the same pay? If they only spent one tenth of the time we did, then we should get paid ten times more. Right?

That makes sense in our world. And it probably made sense in the world where Jesus grew up. However, Jesus was trying to teach people a different way of thinking about God’s world.

Jesus knew that those who only worked for one hour were just as important. They deserved to be valued too. It wasn’t their fault that they weren’t picked first.

We have to change our understanding of who is important and start seeing people the way God sees people – as everyone matters and everyone is equally loved.

That is the most important lesson that Jesus ever taught.