God Is Not Fair

Known for his unique ability to simplify profound truth so that it can be applied to everyday life, Adrian Rogers was one of the most effective preachers, respected Bible teachers, and Christian leaders of our time. Thanks for joining us for this message. Here's Adrian Rogers. Take God's word and turn to Matthew chapter 20. Let me tell you about a friend I had.

He's a preacher. He's now in heaven. He was folically challenged. That means he was bald. Comb his hair with a washcloth.

He had a crew cut and the crew bailed out. Great man of God. And he had a little saying. God is good. God is fair.

Some get brains and some get hair. God is good. But God is not Fair. I want to talk to you about this subject of fairness now. On the human plane, fairness is a wonderful attribute.

And we feel it in bred in us when we're children. Mama, that's not fair. She got more ice cream. Then I got. Or that is not fair.

I did the dishes last night. It is not fair. Why should she get the car tonight? when she had it last night. And we demand fairness.

On the job. If we don't get the promotion and somebody else does, we say, that's not fair.

Somebody gets a raise and we don't. We say that's not fair. If somebody has a day off and we don't get it, we say, that is not fair. Fair. And now today we have laws that make employers Apply fairness.

across the board.

Well, I'm glad that God cannot be sued. For if God could be sued. The Washington lawyers would have a field day suing God because of what they would call his lack of fairness.

Now we're in Matthew chapter 20, verse 1, for the kingdom of heaven. These are the words of Jesus, for the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder. which went out early in the morning to hire laborers. into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, Now it's not a penny like our penny, that's a day's wages.

He sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour. and saw others standing idle in the market place, and said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. And whatsoever is right. I will give you.

And they went their way. Again, he went out about the sixth and ninth hour. and did likewise. And about the 11th hour, now they were working a 12-hour day. About the 11th hour he went out and found others standing idle and saith unto them, Why stand ye here?

all the day idle. And they said unto him, Because no man is hired. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard. And whatsoever is right That shall ye receive. And so when even was come, The lord of the vineyard saith to his steward, Call the laborers and give them their hire, beginning.

from the last unto the first. And when they that came were hired about the 11th hour. They received every man a penny, that is a day's labor. Wages. But when the first came, They suppose that they should have received more.

And they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, They murmured against the good man of the house, saying, These Last have wrought but one hour. And thou hast made them equal unto us. which have borne the burden and the heat of the day. And he answered one of them, And said, friend, I do thee no wrong.

Didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way. And I will give unto the last even as I gave unto the last. Unto the first. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?

Is thine heart evil? Because I And good. God is not fair. But God is good.

Now you need to get the background of this passage of Scripture. There's a man who has a vineyard. He needs some workers, so he goes out early in the morning at the beginning of the day. and hiresome laborers. Then he goes out again at 9 and hires some more laborers.

Then he goes out again at 12 and hires some more laborers. Then he goes in 3 in the afternoon. and hires some more laborers, then also some at five. At the last hour, before sunset.

Now paytime comes. And he starts with those who came last. And he gives them a day's wages. And then the ones who. Had been working all day, said, Boy, this is going to be wonderful.

Look, he gave those who only labored an hour a day's labor. I wonder what we're going to get. And they got The same thing. A near riot broke out. The Bible says there was murmuring.

They were disgruntled. and they felt discriminated against. And they voiced their grievance. Complaints were uttered. Others just murmured.

Under their breath. Notice Matthew 20:11. And when they had received it, they murmured. against the good man of the house. These who were murmuring were those who had toiled for 12 long hours.

And they ended at the end of the day saying, it just isn't. Fair. And it wasn't. But God is good.

I want you to learn tonight some incredible truths.

Some great truths that will see you through in life. And if you don't learn these, I think you're going to get your nose bumped on the spiritual highway. Truth number one. It's always too soon to quit. But never Too late to start.

Always too soon to quit. But it is never too late to start.

Now look in verse 6. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here? All the day Idol. And they came. At the 11th hour.

Now he's not talking here about deathbed repentance. He's not talking about burning the candle of life for yourself and then blowing the smoke in God's face.

Now, there is a deathbed repentance. God will save anybody if they're drawing their last breath, if they call upon Him. Uh to save them. But that's not what he's trying to teach here, or what he is teaching here.

Now the thief on the cross. was saved in the 11th hour. Just before he died, he turned to Jesus and said, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Now Don't deliberately deny Christ. and say, well, I'll get saved in the 11th hour. Because you may never get to the 11th hour. But what is he saying? He's saying it is never Too late to start.

It is always too soon. to quit.

Now, uh These people came into the vineyard, even in the 11th hour. as soon as as they were called.

Now What is the teaching here? It is better to start and to serve lovingly all day. But it is never too late to start.

If there's some of you feel like, you know. I've wasted my life. I'm getting up in years. I'm 60, 70, 80, 90. It's the 11th hour for me.

I've got wonderful, wonderful news for you. I'm Lord. is calling you into his vineyard. Listen, friend, it's always too soon to quit. Never.

Too late to start. You've been sitting idle. All of your spiritual life. The Lord of the Vineyard is calling you tonight. Second truth.

If you bargain with God. You will cheat yourself. Look now in verse 2. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, He sent them into his vineyard. That means in agreement.

had to be made. That means there was some haggling. That means there was a contract. Actually, Williams gives it when they had contracted. Uh They were looking for a certain amount.

I could just hear them saying. What are you paying today? And he says, well. I'll pay you a penny a day. And they say, well, no, we think we need more than a penny a day.

Let's say the labor at that time for a laborer was $10 an hour. And he's saying, I'll pay you $120. For day's work. And they say, couldn't you pay us more than that? It says no.

I will pay you. This much. I heard about a man who applied for a job and He asked his prospective employer, What will you pay me? He said, I'll pay you what you're worth. He said, no deal.

I just quit a job making more than that. But they're they're hagline. back and forth. And finally, they agree. There's a contract.

And they go into The venue.

Now they're going to the vineyard early. And there's nothing wrong with that. The earlier you go into the vineyard, the better it is. I was called into the vineyard early. God saved me at 14, called me to preach at 16.

I've been pastoring since I was 19. It's all I've ever done. And if you've been called early. Praise God that you've been kept from much sinning. Praise him for that.

I praise God I've never known what it is. to use alcohol. Or tobacco. are to be Morally impure. with fornication.

I'm so glad that God saved me from all of that. I'm so glad that God called me early in the morning. and to his venue. And if God has called you that way, Thank him. Praise him that you have been Saved from much sinning.

But if God calls you late in the day, Praise him. that he has forgiven you much. You see, listen, friend. To bargain with God. is to cheat.

Yourself.

Now, these people. We're uh bargaining. with God. The ones who came early. There's nothing wrong with coming early.

But they were trying to drive a bargain. The others came with what we would call a gentleman's agreement. Look at it in Matthew 20 verses 4 and 5. And he said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.

Now watch this. And whatsoever is right. I will give you. No agreement here. Just trust me.

Whatever is right, I will give you. And they went their way again He went about. the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And then in verse 7, And these who came at the 11th hour said, we're here because no man has hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.

Now listen to this. And whatsoever is right. That shall you receive.

Now, they were saying Whatever is right, I'll trust you with. I know that you will do right. We know that you will do whatever's right, and we trust you. We don't ask for a contract. We just simply go into the vineyard.

to work.

Now, what our Lord is doing here is teaching the difference between service that comes out of legalism. and service that comes out of love. And I am the uh The chapter just prior to this, I think we see the reason for this story that Jesus gave. In Matthew chapter 19, verse 27, Peter Who was about to slip into legalism asked Jesus this question. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee.

What shall we have? Therefore.

Now he was saying, look. Lord, I want to make a deal with you. When we follow you, we want to know what we're going to get paid.

Now legalism is always demanding its rights. It wants to bargain with God. The basis of the service is debt. Not grace. The problem With legalism is not that it doesn't get what it bargains for.

The problem is, it does get. What it bargains for. They bargained for a penny. And they got a penny. Jesus said, those who pray to be seen of men have their reward.

Jesus said those who Give to be seen amen. They have their reward. They make a deal? And they have a deal. The principle is That God gives the best who leave the choice.

with him. If you bargain with God, you will cheat yourself. In this story, Those who bargained came in last. Look in verse 16.

So the last shall be first. And the first lasts. You see, This is not equal pay for equal work. God is not interested in your hours. God wants your heart.

God wants you to serve Him, trusting Him with a free heart. A joyful heart. An open heart. A liberal heart saying, oh God. Whatever you do, I know that you are good.

Now God can treat you two ways. He can treat you like a hireling? You bargain with him? Or he can treat you like a servant.

Now the Pharisees We're legalist. And they tried to bargain with God. And they live lives of legalism. Just go over to Matthew 23 and look in verse 23 about the Pharisees. Jesus said, woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites.

for ye pay tithe of mint And Annas And coming. and have omitted The weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. These ought you to have done, that is, you ought to tithe and not to leave the others undone.

Now let me tell you how meticulous the Pharisees were.

Some of you ladies have a little mint plant. in your backyard and you go and pick a few leaves off to put in the iced tea. And I like that. That smells good. And Just adds a little extra Flavor and buoyancy.

The iced tea. But now the Pharisees were so careful. If they had a mint plant, And as they're picking the leaves, one, two, Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Those are mine. Kids?

That's God's. They were so Careful. that they do it exactly right. You would think that God commended them for it, but He didn't. Jesus said, woe unto you.

Because you're legalists. You've left off judgment, mercy, and faith. I want to tell you something. It pays to tithe. But if you tithe because it pays you have a problem.

You don't tithe because it pays. It's not a bargain with God. You give liberally and joyfully. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9, verse 7. God loves.

A cheerful giver. People say give till it hurts. No, you give till it stops hurting. till you can cheerfully give.

Now here's the third principle. You will be very wise. If you let God Key. the books.

Now if you keep a record of your service... You know how many hours you've served. You know what you've done. Yeah. You're very foolish.

rather than leaving the matter with God. You see, Peter had been keeping books. Peter had his eye on the clock. He said, we've done so-and-so and so-and-so. What are we going to get paid?

The legalist always has his eye on the clock. He knows how many hours he has served. He knows what so-called sacrifices he has made. And he really doesn't have the vineyard in his mind. He doesn't have his master in his mind.

He has himself on his mind. When I was a boy, among other jobs that I worked at, when I was in Junior high school. I worked in a drugstore. But that was the kind of a drugstore we had back yonder. That had a soda fountain in it.

And I cooked hamburgers. You didn't know I could do that? I made ice cream sundaes. I did all of these things there in the soda fountain for Mr. All Britain.

And uh In the evening time, when it was time to close, which was 11 o'clock, I would sweep The floor.

Now, we didn't have air conditioning in that drugstore. We had folding doors that opened right out to the street. I had my eye on the clock. It is now ten. Fifty Nah.

At 11 o'clock? Closing time. I saw a car pull up outside. I went to the door. I begin to fasten the door, bolt it down.

They came and knocked on the door. I said, we're closed. I turned around and mister Albritton was standing right behind me. He said, son? I've had this store for X number of years.

He said that's the first time a customer was ever turned away. I felt about that high.

Now what was the difference? I was a legalist. I had my eye on the clock. I was not concerned about Mr. Albritton's vineyard.

Now listen to me, friend. You'll get more. If you let God Keep the books. If you keep the books, let me tell you what the danger is. Number one, You may overpay yourself.

on some occasion.

Sometimes we think we're really doing great things and we may not. I heard a black preacher use a very poignant illustration one time. He was preaching to preachers and he said, now you preachers. You talk about all of those souls that got saved Sunday morning in your church. You might be prone to think they got saved because of your preaching.

He said, have you ever Gone dove hunting? And a man in this field over here will shoot a dove. But he keeps on flying. Any lands in your field? He said, that man that fell at your altar this morning Someone may have wounded him a long time ago.

Somebody witnessed to him.

Somebody shared Christ with him. And you say, look what I did. with my preaching. You see, sometimes you may... Take credit for something that you really don't deserve credit for.

And there are other times When you don't even realize how you've been used of God, But God is using you in a very special way. Way. Listen to Matthew 25.

Now, just go forward to Matthew 25. Jesus is talking about those that He's going to reward. And he said, And I was hungry, and ye gave me meat. And I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in, naked and you clothed me.

I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison. And you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him saying Lord Whence all we thee? and hungered and fed thee, or thirsty and gave thee to drink.

When saw we thee estranger took thee inner naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we these sick or in prison and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you. Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of one of these my brethren, You've done it under me. Here are people who've been serving the Lord.

doing acts of kindness. They're not keeping a record. As a matter of fact, they don't have it in their books. I said, Lord, what was that? When were you thirsty and I gave you something to drink?

When were you naked? I gave you clothes. When were you in prison? And I visited you. You know, if we were to Pay ourselves.

If we were to keep the books, we might overpay ourselves sometimes and underpay ourselves sometimes.

Sometimes, what we think is the most incidental thing, if it's done out of loyalty, God bless us. I told you a while back about a letter I received from a man. He said, forgive me for taking so long to write this letter. But I want to tell you how God used you in my life. He said it was on Merritt Island where you used to pastor.

He said, I was a long-haired surfer. Going down the road with my surfboard. And you stopped. And pick me up. It was a hot day.

And you talk to me. about Jesus. He said, I laughed at you. I made as if it had no impact on me at all. You let me out.

He said, I went on my way. But I was never, ever able. to forget what you said to me. Until I gave my heart to Christ. He said, Jesus saved me, and now I'm pastor.

of a very wonderful church. And I just want to thank you.

Well you see, look. I didn't even remember it. I thought, do I remember now? I think maybe vaguely, faintly. I remember picking that boy up.

You see, sometimes The things we do. We don't put in the books. The things we think we have done, God does not put in the books. But you will be wise to let God keep the books.

Now here's the fourth thing. Don't look For fairness. Ask for mercy. Look in verses 14 and 15. The owner of the vineyard said, take it.

that thine is, and go thy way. And I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil? Because I'm good.

Now the concept of fairness. is based on the idea that I am owed something. In comparison. with others. I want my fair share.

That's what fairness is based on. But God doesn't deal with fairness. Listen, God deals. on the basis of justice and mercy. He said, look, it's mine.

I can do with it. What I will. You see, God is good. God is merciful. But you can only receive mercy after you agree with justice.

Justice is God giving us what we deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. Friend, grace that we heard about is God giving us. What we do not deserve. And I'm so grateful for God's grace.

God showed grace to these people who came at the 11th hour. into the vineyard.

Now, if you serve God for fairness, You get upset if somebody gives more than you. And you get upset. if they got it sooner than you. And you'll get upset if somebody Get something that you don't get. My friend Don't ever ask God.

for justice. If you get justice, you'll be in a pickle. Ask God. For mercy.

Now here's the fifth thing I want you to learn, and we'll be finished. Another's blessing is never your loss. Because God blessed these at the 11th hour. That doesn't mean that those who came at the first hour somehow suffered loss. Look in verses 14 and 15 again.

Take that thine ears and go thy way. I will give unto the last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good? When one serves for reward, It is not long before he is complaining.

that he is not sufficiently Rewarded. Do you remember the story of the Prodigal son. Luke 15. One brother went off and wasted his father's substance in riotous living. The other brother stayed home.

That was fine. The other brother worked. in the vineyard, and that was fine. But the other brother got all bent out of shape. And the reason he got bent out of shape is that when the younger brother came home, The father loved him.

Hugged him. put a ring on his hand, shoes on his feet. and barbecued the fatty calf. The older brother said, this is not fair. I've worked for you all this time.

And look. How you're treating. This son of yours. He couldn't even call him. His brother.

Well, somehow This elder brother thought that his younger brother's blessing was his loss. Father said, look. to the older brother, all that I have. is yours. Don't worry if somebody gives more than you get.

Don't worry if God is blessing someone more than He's blessing you, supposedly. Don't be a legalist. Legalism is the root of jealousy. And jealousy is the root of ingratitude. And ingratitude is the root of self-pity.

And self-pity is the root of bitterness and envy. Thank God for what he does for you. Don't drive a bargain. with God. We're going to be much happier.

in this life. If we take our eyes off of our brothers and sisters and put our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, And be grateful for what he does. You know, a lot of us have the elder brother syndrome. The legalist syndrome. I pastor churches where people resent newcomers into the church.

These people are taking up all the rooms. Yeah. That man is sitting in my seat. And they get upset. When a newcomer comes in and shares in the blessings, Like those who have been laboring for 10, 15, 20, 30 years in this church.

What a pity that is when people feel that way. Uh uh some say you know Bellevue is big enough. Do you know what they're saying? They're saying, I've got what I want, the rest can go to hell. No, you wouldn't say it that brought me.

But when you say, look. We big enough. You say, leave these 11th hour folks out of the whole deal. These children are ruining The walls were fingerprints. Then we'll repaint them, friend.

Thank God for the children. What I'm trying to say is this.

Someone else's blessing is not your blessing. Loss. There's no seniority. in the kingdom of heaven.

Now when we get to heaven Not everybody's going to say have the same reward. You know, we sang that song, Just Give Me a Cabin in the Corner of Gloryland. Ah, well, it may be all you get. Jesus said, lay up for yourself treasure in heaven.

Some will have more than others, or this verse doesn't make sense. But how is that treasure laid up in heaven? by loving free service.

Now I want to close the message. But what about those of you? who are living in the 11th hour. Right now. Those of you who are saved and you're in the 11th hour, You haven't been serving the Lord.

What I want you to do. is to say Lord How can I use These last days For you. Don't coast into the holy city. Cross the line with your heart blazing. The torch held high.

For the Lord Jesus Christ. But maybe You're not even saved. And it's the 11th hour for you. And you're saying, you know, I've Live this way. I guess I'll just have to die this way and miss heaven.

No, you don't. Billy Sunday was a famous evangelist. In the 20s. The thirties of the last century. He was a mighty man of God.

He was a former. Major League Baseball player, a great athlete. But he was a drunkard, an alcoholic. God saved him and God transformed him. And God used him as a mighty preacher of the word of God.

When Billy went to a particular city one time, They said, Billy. There's a man in this city. Who used to play baseball with you? We call him The old timer. Billy, why don't you go by and talk to him about Jesus?

If you were to talk to him, perhaps he'd get saved. We've talked to him and. It doesn't seem to do any good.

So Billy Sunny went to talk to this man they call the old timer. And Billy explained the gospel to him. And said, old timer, you remember we had a good time playing baseball? And uh we had a lot of fun. But old timer, there were some things that I did that were wrong.

And Jesus forgave me. And Jesus save me. And he wants to save you. And the old-timer said to Billy, Billy, thank you for coming to see me. We did have some good times together.

We were close friends. But I remember that day. When you Heard that gospel band on the street corner. And they preached. I remember, Billy, when you went into the...

The mission there. And you gave your heart to Christ. Betty, you went that way. And I went this way. And now My life is just about over.

Billy Sunday said, well old timer God is merciful. It may be the 11th hour, but come on in. Come in and be saved. The old timer said, Nope. It's too late.

For me. I made my choice a long time ago. Billy Sunday pled with the old timer. But the old timer shook his head. and refuse Christ.

Billy said, in my mind, I saw a picture. The sun was sinking in the west. It was the bottom of the ninth inning. The old timer was at bat. He had Two strikes against him.

The bottom of the ninth. The ball. came across the plate. Big and soft. The crowd said Swing, old timer.

Swing. And Billy said, He never even lifted the bat. From his shoulder. Don't be like that, man. This may be God calling you.

You may be one of those 11th hour people. Maybe today is the first time you've ever really understood. That God will save anybody, anytime, any place. who will call upon him. It's always too soon to quit.

It's never too late. Yeah. Aren't you glad that God is not fair, but God is good? Aren't you glad for his mercy? We don't want fairness.

We need mercy. And we can have it. Father God, I pray that you will help all of us. Not to try to bargain with you. Not to keep books.

May the Lord to lovingly and joyfully serve you and trust you. If you would like to learn more about how you can know Jesus or deepen your relationship with him, simply click the Discover Jesus link on our website, lwf.org. For a copy of this message or additional resources, visit our online store at lwf.org. or call 1-800-274-5683. Thank you.