Bible Story: Day Job (the parable of the vineyard workers) Matthew 20:1-15
Bottom Line: Take time to adjust your attitude.
Memory Verse: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV
Virtue: Gratitude—letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Telling the Bible Story
FIRST HIRED
STORYTELLER: “This story was about a rich guy who owned a vineyard, which is a bunch of land where grapes grow. Growing grapes takes a lot of work. You’ve got to plant the grapes and water them, pick bugs off them, and then pick the grapes at harvest time. So, this guy needed workers for his vineyard—hey, just like I needed a worker to help with my plants!
“So, the rich guy went out really early one morning. I’ll use this clock to show you how early—6:00 a.m.! The sun had just barely come up! Anyway, he went out to find some workers, like I found this kid. And he told the workers he’d pay them one denarius—which was the usual pay for a day’s work. The workers were like, ‘Yeah, man! We got jobs! We gonna have some money!’ And they were so happy and thankful. (To kid) Just like you’ll be thankful to get your dollar, right?
MORE HIRED
STORYTELLER: (Still to kid) “But, you know, there’s more work to do and I think you might need some help. Can I get one more helper? (Select next volunteer.)
“Okay, you two, I want you to put an equal amount of dirt in all five pots. While they do that, let’s get back to the story. About 9:00 a.m. (change the clock), the rich guy hired some more workers, like I picked another helper. Then, at noon (change the clock) he hired some more. Must have been a big vineyard, right? Say, let me get another helper up here. You three take the plants out of their plastic pots so we can plant them.
“So, this landowner went back to town at 3:00 and still found some out-of-work guys standing around. He said, ‘Want a job?’ and they were like, ‘Sign us up!’ I think my workers here need another helper too. Let me get another worker to help put the plants in the five pots. (To kids) Just push the dirt in the pot to the side and put the plant down in the middle.
“Back to the story. Okay, to review: the landowner hired workers at 6 in the morning, then at 9, noon, and 3:00. Then at 5:00 in the afternoon, just an hour before the workday was done, the rich guy went out one last time and found some poor guys that no one else had hired.
(To kids.) “Hey, you guys all done? Looks like there’s only one thing left to do. Can I get one last helper up here? (Last kid comes onstage.) Okay, everyone stand by a plant and water it with the watering can.
ALL PAID
STORYTELLER: “Back to the story. It was finally quitting time and the rich guy came to pay all the workers he hired. He started with the very last guys hired, the ones who only worked about an hour, and he gave them a whole denarius. When the very first workers—the ones who had been working for 12 hours—saw this, they got excited! If the last workers got a whole denarius, they were bound to get like ten times that, right?
“That reminds me, I need to pay my helpers. Here’s a dollar for you. (Pay the last kid hired, then pause dramatically.) There is also a dollar for you, one for you, one for you, and one for you. (To first kid chosen.) Hey, you look a little disappointed that I’m only giving you a dollar. Do you think it’s unfair that you worked longer and got the same pay? Hmm, that sounds familiar.
“In Jesus’ story, the landowner paid all the workers one denarius, no matter what time of day he hired them. The first workers were like, ‘Hey, no fair! We worked all day in the hot sun. We should get more.’ But the landowner thought they should [Impress] take time to adjust their attitude. He said (read from Bible), ‘I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ (Matthew 20:13b-15, NIV)
WRAPPING UP THE STORY
STORYTELLER: “So, the workers had been thankful earlier, but then they got jealous and ungrateful when they thought something was unfair. (To first kid hired.) Like you were excited and thankful to earn a dollar, but maybe thought it was unfair when I gave everyone a dollar. Let’s check your gratitude tank.
“Whoa! You’re running pretty low on gratitude. I think you need an adjustment! How about giving me some help with this, kids?
STORYTELLER: “Life can definitely be unfair sometimes, that’s just the way life is. Someone is always going to have more than you and someone else is always going to have less. But when you come up on a situation that seems unfair, you get to choose how to react. You can choose to be grateful for all you have. If you start feeling jealous and ungrateful, you can choose to [Impress] take time to adjust your attitude. Looks like that’s what my first helper has done. Look, his gratitude tank is full!
STORYTELLER: “Thanks for all your help, workers. Don’t lose your dollars! (Helpers return to groups.) I’m glad my helpers are all choosing to be grateful. When you choose to be ungrateful, it makes you unhappy and mad, and you might miss out on good stuff in your life. Like at Christmastime, you open this cool present you really wanted and you’re all excited about it until you see what your brother got, and then you want his stuff instead. You totally miss out on enjoying your own present because you’re so jealous and ungrateful. When you run up against something that you think is unfair and you start to lose your gratitude, I want you to choose to [Impress] take time to adjust your attitude. Let’s say that together.”
CG: Bottom Line Slide
STORYTELLER and KIDS: [Impress] “Take time to adjust your attitude.”
STORYTELLER: “When you choose to still be grateful, even when someone else has more and it seems unfair, then you’ll be content—happy with what you have and you won’t miss out on all the ways God has blessed you!”
Prayer
STORYTELLER: “Let’s pray and let God know how grateful we are to Him. Father God, You are so generous to all of us. Help us to be thankful for all You do for us, and never let bad feelings steal our gratitude. We give You our love and gratitude, dear Lord. Amen.”