Working for a Salary of $2.50 a Week

At the beginning of the school year, Leah and I felt like both of our kids were at the age where they could handle some light responsibility around the house. If you visited our house today you would find that agreed-upon list of responsibilities taped to the hallway in between their rooms. Most of the things on the list are pretty simple – clean your room, blah, blah, blah. I tried to slip in some good ones such as mow the yard, but since our lawnmower weighs more than they do, we decided that this would be unfair…maybe next year. Along with this list, we decided to also implement a system of rewards and consequences. The most important factor to them is the $2.50 they receive if they complete their responsibilities. Some of you think this is unfair and cheap labor. Others of you may think children should not be rewarded for tasks they should already be doing. Oh, well. My daughter is very religious about doing these assignments, even if her idea of cleaning her room is rearranging things – mostly to underneath the bed. My son, however, is not so excited about the “list” until it comes time for the money to be given out. Last week, Lexi did all her chores during the week but Ty did not do anything. Toward the end of the week, my wife reminded him of this so he began furiously working for one day. He explained to me that even though he had not done his chores during the week, he had completed some “make-up work.” That is what he called it. In reality he did complete the work, even if it was late. He will get the same reward as Lexi.This situation reminded me of a parable in the Bible found in Matthew 20:1-16. A landowner goes out to hire men to work in his vineyard. He hired some to work early in the morning, some in the afternoon, and some an hour before the end of the day. When it came time to pay the workers, each of them received a full day’s wage regardless of the amount of time worked. Those who had worked all day became upset at the landowner for not giving them more. How could those who only worked one hour receive the same wage as those who labored all day? The answer is not found in laborers, but in the fact that the landowner was kind and gracious. The landowner represents God the Father who is gracious to all those who labor for Him…even those who begin their work later in life. Remember that it is never too late to do something that matters for the kingdom of God.