As we look at the final NCFI value, we explore equity and God’s grace.

According to Ross, a Bible scholar, a lesson of God’s equity of faithful service is found in the parable Matthew 20:1-16 “Workers in the Vineyard”. The landowner hires workers at various times throughout the day. Some at the start of the day, some in the middle, and some for the final hour. At the end of the day, when it is time to pay the workers their wage, the landowner pays the same wage to each worker, whether they had worked 1 hour or for the entire day. The lessons from the story are:

1. The Lord, the landowner, is sovereign over His kingdom including the workers and the wages.
2. Everyone who serves the Lord will be treated fairly and can trust his equity.
3. How the Lord treats all of His servants is by grace. Until the workers were approached by the landowner, they had no work. If he had not found them and arranged for them to enter his vineyard, they would have remained with nothing.
4. The workers should be pleased with what He gives them.

In the final analysis, by Ross, it is not by length of service, or amount of work, that grace operates—it is based on what God chooses to give.  “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (vs 16)

Thus my reflection on equity as a NCFI value is we are all colleagues, workers of the vineyard. The Lord, as the landowner, is sovereign over every detail of our vineyard, NCFI, including the workers. We depend on the Lord to search for workers and br
ing them into our vineyard and trust him with how he will supply each need. Unlike an ac
ademic setting that has tiers of masters or doctorates or clinical facilities with staff nurse, managers and administrators, each nurse is welcomed and respected as a fellow colleague. We encourage everyone to use his or her gifts in the vineyard without delineation of education, rank or title (1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:6).  We live out the grace of God as we recognize each person’s contributions, whether it is small or large, or during a short season, or a life-time of service.  Finally, our landowner, the Lord is generous and gracious with his rewards in this life and the one to come (1 Peter 5:4; James 1:2). We praise him for the wonderful opportunity to serve Him in NCFI!

“Equity and justice are the foundations of your throne. Loyal love and faithfulness characterize your rule. How blessed are the people who worship you! O Lord, they experience your favor.” (Psalms 89:14-15)

Ross, A “Workers in the Vineyard” (Matthew 20:1-16).