We have talked briefly about capital and labor before, but considering the three-day weekend, a scriptural thought on labor: Christ’s Parable of the Laborers found in Matthew 20.

It is interesting to note the context. A young rich man had just approached the Savior asking what he must do to have eternal life. This good young man had kept the commandments from his youth and asked the Master, “What lack I yet?” (Matt. 19:20). The Savior told him that he had but one thing lacking, to go and sell his things and follow him.

This young man went away sorrowing for he had many possessions. This seemed to weigh on the apostles for Peter stepped forward just a few verses later and asks, “Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what have we therefore?” (Matt. 19:27).

The Lord assures them of the blessings that are promised them that believe and then goes on to share the parable of the laborers.

A man who had a field went to marketplace to hire workers for his field. He agreed with certain laborers to pay them a penny for their labors.

As the day progressed this master returned to the marketplace hiring other laborers saying, “whatsoever is right I will give you” (Matt. 20:4). Even at the eleventh hour, this master went to the marketplace, hiring these workers saying, ‘whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive’.

And so it was at the end of the day, the wages were distributed. Every man was given a penny. Naturally those who had worked the whole day felt they were entitled to more since these that had only worked part of the day had received the same wage they had.

The master only asked them if it was not fair, for they had received exactly what they had asked for. Had he dealt with them unjustly?

Considering the original question of Peter, ‘what have we therefore?’ it appears the Lord was warning against trying to pinch pennies with the Lord. I love this quote from Jesus the Christ about this parable:

“[This parable] stands out as truly in force today as when it was delivered by the Master, as a rebuke of the bargaining spirit in the Lord’s work. God needs workers, and such as will labor faithfully and effectively are welcomed into the vineyard. If, before beginning they insist on the stipulation of a wage, and this be agreed to, each shall receive his penny provided he has not lost his place through idleness or transgression. But those who diligently labor, knowing that the Master will give to them whatsoever is right, and with thought for the work and not the wage, shall find themselves more bountifully enriched.”

Elder Talmage goes on to observe how ironic it is to presumptuous it is to ask for a wage in the first place. After all, are we not in His debt anyways already?

I hope as we head to the fields of our respective labor in the church, let us not do it with preconceived notions of the blessings we should get. If we focus on the work and doing the best we can, it’s my testimony that God’s grace is sufficient. He will take care of the wages after all we can do (Consider 2 Nephi 23:25).

Thanks for reading.