Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Matthew 20:1-16

Highlight Verse:

“Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This parable highlights the fact that heaven and all its benefits is available to every believer whether they repented earlier in life or minutes before passing away.

What it also shows is compassion of an employer toward his workers. He made sure the workers would not go hungry when they couldn’t find work for the day.

In compassion, the employer pays them all the same.

Labor Day celebrates and honors physical laborers.

President Grover Cleveland signed the day into law to help alleviate tensions after the violent Pullman Strike of 1894.

The shift away from an agricultural economy to an industrial economy saw some greedy factory owners creating harsh and unfair working conditions.

In short, they didn’t not consider compassion in their employment practices. As a result, workers revolted.

Those revolts resulted in much better conditions today (for the most part).

I can’t help but think that it would have been much better if those conditions could have been created out of compassion for workers rather than revolt.

As we enjoy our barbecue and time with family, we would do well to lift up those whose physical labor built this country.

We would do even better if we let the compassion of Christ rule the way we treat others.