Equal Wages, Unequal Work

BECAUSE NO ONE HAS HIRED US

IT COULD BE IMMIGRANT LABOR
OR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
OR UNTRAINED LABOR
BUT THE LANDOWNER
AT THE LAST HOUR
SAID
COME WORK FOR ME

AND EVERYMAN
AT PAY TIME
RECEIVED THE SAME
WAGES

NOW THE STORY WAS NOT TOLD
AS AN EXAMPLE OF LABOR MANAGEMENT
OR HOW TO FAIL IN BUSINESS

BUT ALL ARE INVITED
TO COME INTO THE VINEYARD

SOME
WILL BE IN THE VINEYARD
UNDER THE SUN
ALL DAY

SOME
PART OF THE DAY

SOME WILL COME
WHEN EVENING CHILL
IS IN THE AIR

AND THE MASTER SAYS
IS YOUR EYE EVIL
BECAUSE I AM GOOD

IT DOESN’T SOUND FAIR
AND IT ISN’T
IN HUMAN TERMS

BUT GOD WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND
THAT HE WILL LEAVE
THE NINETY NINE SAFE SHEEP
AND SEEK THE LOST ONE
SO GREAT IS HIS DESIRE
THAT ALL BE SAFE

IT WOULD BE WELL FOR US TO REMEMBER
THAT WE LABOR NOT FOR WAGES
OR GOD’S APPROVAL

THE REWARD IS A GIFT FROM GOD
AND THE REWARD IS THE SAME FOR ALL

WE SHOULD REJOICE WITH THE SHEPHERD
AT THE FINDING OF THE LOST SHEEP


FRANK A VOLLMER