In the gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus shared the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. The owner of the vineyard hired day laborers at various times throughout the day. Those who started work at 6:00 a.m. put in a full day’s work. But there were those who were hired at 5:00 p.m. and put in only an hour of work. But when salaries were paid out, the owner pays all the laborers a full day’s wage (a denarius). Those who were hired first complained why those who started work late in the day were paid the same as them who worked longer.
The owner replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?… Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matt. 20:13, 15-16).
I don’t think this situation is a common practice, or maybe not at all, today in companies. Salaries are even bracketed according to your position in the company. Those who have more years in a company are expected to receive more than the newer ones.
And whenever there are terminations, the usual practice is last in-first out again because those who were hired first have the privilege to keep their work.
And why do employees call it favoritism or unfair labor practice when others who have been hired after them get promoted instead of them?
What’s this about being first that people often want preferential treatment attached to it?
Last December, I was in a local grocery store famous for low-priced goods lining up at the cashier. There were long lines everywhere and I had been standing in line for almost an hour already. Suddenly, a woman pushed her way to the front, got hold of a pushcart full of goods that was parked at the sides and then told the rest of us that she should be the next to pay because she had been there first. No one listened to her. I heard one saying she left the cart for a long time so she should fall in line. The people continued to move forward preventing her from getting into the line.
Two things: Why is it hard for us to give way? And why do some people think others should give way just because they were there first?
I was here first smacks of selfishness. Not giving way is the same.
No wonder the world has all kinds of wars. No wonder there’s always conflict. No one wants to be selfless.
I am not exempt. I also fall into the trap.
Traffic is stressful. And so when I find myself driving in traffic, I find myself fighting for my space so I can get ahead. I get irritated when another car comes along at the side and tries to get into my space. Why doesn’t he fall in line? I was here first so I should go first.
Aha, so there’s that “I-am-here-first” line again! And I pass on the fault to the other driver. But later, I ask myself, “Why can’t I just give way?” I am as selfish as the other person!
To be more kind and generous is my constant prayer. I seek God’s grace to do this because I know I can’t do it on my own. Selfishness is just a big-eyed monster closely related to envy and jealousy and it’s easy to get trapped in these sins especially if we just think of our own rights.
Thank God that there are times He’s shown me how good it feels to be unselfish by giving way.
Even when I am in a hurry, I try to stop at every pedestrian lane on the road to make sure people cross first. And when I do give way for pedestrians to cross first, it does feel good inside.
During those times I take the jeepney, I give way to passengers who come into the vehicle instead of following others who keep on moving towards the exit making the person who just got on crouch-walk a long way to the front. I tell people to stop moving and just give the empty space to the latest passenger. It feels good to be gracious.
If we can only agree to be the last instead of wanting to be always the first, there can be peace. If we can just stop claiming privileges because we were the first and learn to give way, there can be peace. And where peace is, there is love.
The love of Jesus can break our selfishness. He taught, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure– pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” (Luke 6:38)
The giving, selfless kind of love is what God wants from all of us from the beginning—and the death of Jesus on the cross can help us achieve it. It was the ultimate proof of unconditional love.
Can we start showing this kind of love and make a difference?
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