Jesus the Generous Employer

For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last up to the first.' And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' So the last will be first, and the first last.

## Question 1 The sermon said the first workers grumbled because they compared themselves to the last workers. When you look at what others have instead of thanking God for what you have, how do you feel? Draw or write about it here.

## Question 2 The vineyard owner said, 'I choose to give to the last worker as I give to you.' The sermon said God gives grace to everyone He calls, no matter when they come. Why is it good news that God is generous to all His people? Write your answer here.

## Question 3 The sermon said we should serve faithfully and be content. What is one way you can serve Jesus with a happy heart this week? Draw or write your idea here.

## Activity: Find Something Look around your home and find one thing that reminds you of God's generosity. Draw it in the space below and finish this sentence: This reminds me that God is generous because __________.