The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-07-11
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ASATURDAY
~ NIGHT
!! \ SERMONS
By
- M'sunwpuRsnM
A STRANGE PAYnAsTER.


pie bordered cloak flaps a heartbroken
regret. He cannot. he will not, sell all
and follow the poverty welded Jesus.
That's asking too much. The twelve
have been looking at each other quiz
ideally. They're thinking Of boats.
nets, farms, custom booths, and SO on.
left back In Galilee. They motion to-
ward Peter. He Is ready. 10. we
have left all and followed thee! What
shall we haveT' The answer is like
cool water to the thirsty-promise OF
spiritual power and honor in the re-
generation. and more. Every one
that hath left houses or brethren or
lands shall receive hundredfold and
shall inherit eternal life" Splendid!
Magnificent! Then comes a small
word-"but"-a sharp turn in the road
that opens up a new view-"but many
shall be last that are first and first
that are last" What's that? What
does he mean? The Master deftly
sketches a picture-a householder hir-
ing laborers for his vineyard at FIVE
different periods Of the day. At sun
set those who worked an hour received
as much as those who work all day
At the bottom Of the picture he puts
an explanatory title, $50 the last shall
be first and the first last
The Call to Service.
At sunrise, in the first flush of the
morn, the master of the vineyard re-
turns from the market place with la
borers. They're soon at work filling
their baskets with luscious purple
grapes. Back and forth to the press
they go with laughter and song. Good
wages here-a denarius day! They're
lucky fellows! They can most feel the
silver piece In their scrip now. He's a
fine employer, surely. Catch the drift?
Gods the husbandman, of course. The
vineyards the world. How large the
pay! Eye hath not seen nor ear
heard" How happy those who begin
their life's day early with him! Nine
o'clock comes The owner has been
out calling more laborers. They are
three hours late, but soon their fingers
too, are red with the rich blood of the
ripened grape. Others come in at high
noon, yet others at g. They work
cheerfully in the long vine rows. Won
der what they'll get? The days far
gone. so much yet to be done. The
grapes will rot on the vines. The hus-
bandman looks toward the sinking sun.
There's still time for service. Five
o'clock finds some new laborers. not
SO quick, not so efficient perhaps in
their service, but willing to come
They make no bargain. They cannot
expect much. They will leave that to
him. They fling themselves heartily
into the task. The husbandman watch
es them with pleased eyes Blessings
on the cheerful worker!
The Rewards Of Service.
Six o'clock. The sun Is low. Call
the craft from their labor and pay
them that which Is due. the last first.
The eleventh hour men are amazed.
Not copper not bronze, but silver-a
denarius! How generous! And the
next group and the next the same
What an eccentric employers! Here
comes the first hour men. They will.
Of course, receive several - what ?
Surely, no! Only a denarius? They
pour out their hot walls Of indignation.
They denounce the master bitterly. 1t
seems rankest injustice. How can he
defend himself? Friend. | did thee
no wrong. You utterly misunderstood.
1t is not case of injustice to you all
day laborers. but of generosity to the
late corners. have paid you with
fairness. them with liberality Is thine
eye evil because am good? Are you
envious, covetous? Has the green
eyed monster seized upon your" They
60 off shaking their heads and NUT.
tering imprecations. Their trouble
They have received their agreed pay,
but it is the others. Aye, there's the
rub! Happiness is relative 1t de.
ponds not on what you have, but on
what you think your neighbor has
How about the husbandman's princi
pie? II an employer knows one of bis
men has sickness at home or a large
family and chooses to give him double
wage. is he bound to go around his
factory and double the wages Of every
man? Has he a right to do as he will
with his own?
The Principle Of the Kingdom.
There are Christians and Christians
first class and last class. those who
ask. what shall have?" and those
who ask. What shall | dor The re.
ward Of the divine husbandman shall
be based not upon the duration of the
time of service, but upon the spirit
and character Of that service; not
quantity. but quality: not what'll
get, but what'll give: not objective,
but subjective. No man works for
God without adequate pay. Not to be
said Of Mary, "She hath done great
thing" but "She hath done what she
could" Modern schools of economics
might laugh at the Widows mite and
the dying thief, but when the spirit is
carried into capital and labor, the
weak and the halt being cared fol-
equally with the strong and swift
| %haro enn,,on IN ha n or r.flincr rocorn,