The Old Tractor

February 9, 2015

Several have asked if I would repost this favorite from 2011.

“…‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.  Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?” – Matthew 20:13-15


Inequality – It’s Not Fare – Jealousy – Envy – Lust – Greed – Cheated - Betrayed

What other words can you think of to describe the emotions that run through our mind when we feel someone has wronged us?  It’s so hard in today’s world to take one’s eyes off of our own struggles, our own trials and focus on the blessings and joy that God has provided for us uniquely.  We find it easy to praise God and to rejoice with others as long as we are getting our fare share of the spoils, but what constitutes a fare share?

This parable found in Matthew 20:1-16 tells us that God’s love, His generosity, His grace and His eternal blessing is equally available to all mankind.  Why should this bother us so much?  Why should we be angered when another person accepts the graciousness and beauty of God’s salvation?  If someone’s life is completely unrighteous and filthy as seen through our eyes, isn’t the plan of salvation just as important for that person as it is for the person who has tried to live righteously? 

It’s like this.  A farmer’s tractor break’s down right in the middle of the harvest season.  He hits his knees that night and prays for God’s blessings and help in this situation, so he might finish the harvesting of his crop before the rains come.  The next day as the farmer was going to town he passed by another farm, where an aged tractor sat by the road, with a sign on it – “FREE – Just pay for the gas”  He walked up to the door to inquire, feeling unbelievably blessed that the Lord would answer his prayer this way.  When the door opened, a young man stood there with a baby in his arms and a few more toddlers by his feet; his eyes were red and puffy.  The farmer asked, “Sir – are you giving away your tractor?”  Nodding, the young man said, “Yes I am, as long as you pay for the gas to get it back to your place.”  The farmer couldn’t believe it, so he asked “Does it run, and will it work for harvesting my fields?”  With a smile, he replied, “Without a doubt, it’s solid and trustworthy.  My father meticulously took care of it ever since I was a kid.”  The farmer counted it a blessing and wasted no time, “I’ll take it young man.” And they shook hands to seal the deal.

 Later in the day, the farmer got a ride back to pick up the tractor and there was a line of trucks and cars in the young man’s drive way.  As the farmer made his way through the crowd he found the young man.  “I’ve come to get the tractor.”  He couldn’t help but ask, “Sir, what are all of these people doing here?”  The young man with tears in his eyes said to the farmer, “They are here for the same reason as you.  I am giving it all away.  You see my father ran this farm, and died this past week.  I know nothing of running a farm and need none of this stuff, so I’m giving it all away.  Here are the keys to the tractor, take good care of it, won’t you?”  Looking around the farmer noticed all of the things being loaded into trucks, and hooked to the back of trucks to be towed away.  He said to the young man, “I’m sorry about your father, I truly am, but why didn’t you tell me you were giving all of this away?  I would have taken it all off your hands.”  Biting his lower lip, the young man managed to say, “My father loved this community and it was his wish that his love be shared with all of them.  I was hoping you would still be grateful for the free tractor.”  The farmer walked away but couldn’t help from feeling jealous, cheated and less than grateful as he hoped aboard the aged tractor.  Turning the key, it started perfectly and the farmer pulled away toward his farm, for there was still much work to be done.

We are conditioned to never be satisfied.  The latest gadget comes out and we have to have it.  The neighbor gets a new car, and all of a sudden my car isn’t quite as good anymore.  We need to learn to be content in what the Lord has provided for us.  Count the blessings you do have, rather than focusing on those you do not have.  When all is said and done, is there anything more valuable than an eternity with God the Father? 


Heavenly Father,
Maker of all things, You have blessed me with health, joy, a wonderful family and a roof over my head.  You have met all of my needs and then some, and I stand before You spoiled by Your grace, love and mercy.  Thank You for Your plan of salvation and for providing for my family’s needs.  I ask You Lord to bless those who are less fortunate, provide shelter for those who are homeless and food for those who are hungry.  Help me be a vessel of Your love to all that I meet.  In Jesus name we pray – Amen.


© Sondove Enterprises

All in a Day’s Work

Make 2014 a year of Sharing

“But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’” – Matthew 20:13-15

The dryness caused their lips to crack and pus ran from the scrapes and cuts on their arms and legs.  The window of mercy and forgiveness had come and gone and they were left with the full conviction for their crimes.  Their attempts at restitution or reconciliation had failed and the death sentence was rightfully administered.  Their bodies weakened as the effects of gravity pulled at their internal organs and caused the collapse of their lungs upon their heart making it near impossible to breathe.  As the life began to drain from their bodies, one of them looked up and despite his failures, weaknesses and unrighteousness asked the Son of God to “Remember me when you come into Your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42)  And so it was as Jesus confirmed the man’s salvation moments before the man’s body succumbed to life on this earth.

Christianity is not based on living a perfect life, or even a righteous life for that matter.  For being or becoming perfect is impossible based on original sin of mankind in the Garden of Eden.  Christianity is based on an acceptance and acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of mankind.  Are you jealous of those that have lived a life of crime and receive salvation with their dying breath?  The scriptures tell us clearly in Luke that it is indeed a reality and an acceptable condition for eternity with the Father.  Furthermore, it goes to show that salvation is not dependent upon the works of the individual but the single act of sincere acceptance of Jesus Christ.  Now, one can question all day long the sincerity of one’s salvation, but we aren’t authorized to make that call.  That is uniquely the role and responsibility of Jesus Christ alone.  Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”   Should we judge whether God can forgive a man and allow him to enter into eternal peace?  Far be it from me to take on that role.

Is it fair that some live a life of lust, debauchery, evil and disgust, and then give their life to Jesus moments before death or on death row?  My answer is yes, it is fair.  It’s very hard to accept, but none the less it’s completely fair.  If God sent His Son to die that ALL mankind might repent and receive salvation, than we should be celebrating when any child of God returns to the Father, regardless of when it is in their lifecycle.  Think of the Prodigal Son returning to his father after spending all of his money on wild living in pursuit of earthly pleasures.  The response of his father was one of loving grace and acceptance, as is our Father in heaven’s response when one of His children turn and come home. 

Jealousy, envy and claims of unfairness are truly nothing more than a representation of selfishness.  We want all the benefits we deserve and do not want others to receive benefits from their work.  In the above scripture Matthew 20:13-15, Christ shares a parable of the vineyard workers .  The owner of the vineyard early in the morning called men to work the fields and agrees to pay them a denarius.  At nine and again at noon and three o’clock, he does the same thing.  He does it again at 5 in the afternoon for all of the remaining workers.  At dark he calls them in and pays them all the same wage, a denarius.  Of course the men that had worked the entire day were angered for not getting more than those who came in at the end.  The vineyard owner has every right to grant the same benefit to each and every individual what he determines is justice, irrelevant of the others opinions on fairness.  It is his money, they agreed early on to do the work for that price, therefore removing any dispute about fairness.

The work that was accomplished by those that began earlier was exponentially greater than those that came in late in the day.  So it is with our Christian walk.  The earlier in life we make the decision and commitment to follow Jesus Christ the greater our work and our ability to improve His Kingdom.  Our reward is equal to every other person that has accepted Jesus Christ, but the fruit of our labor represents a greater blessing to our Father in Heaven, who receives all glory for our work. 

So, you see, salvation is available to all mankind, right up to their very last breath.  To some this is an excuse to party and live unrighteously right up to the end.  This selfishness for their own life may cost them salvation as they are not in control of their death, and indeed it might cost them salvation because they have intentionally denied Christ their entire life.  Only God can determine that.  The moral of the story is to accept Jesus Christ with a sincere, repentant heart and mind, then seek the opportunities to pursue him with your life.  In doing so, you have great opportunity to bring glory to God and help others come to a similar place in life.      

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts