If you’ve ever raised children, you’ve probably heard the phrase:

“That’s not fair!”

It often comes after someone gets a bigger cookie, stays up later, or receives a privilege someone else didn’t.

But what if that same mindset quietly shapes the way we think about God?

In his message, “No Fair,” Pastor Steve Schobert takes us into one of Jesus’ most surprising parables in Matthew 20. Through the story of the workers in the vineyard, we’re reminded that God’s kingdom doesn’t operate according to our ideas of fairness—it operates according to His extravagant grace.

For families across Garland, Murphy, Plano, Richardson, Rowlett, Wylie, Dallas County, Collin County, and Rockwall County, this message offers a life-changing perspective on gratitude, humility, and the goodness of God.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD DOESN’T WORK LIKE THE WORLD
Jesus tells the story of a landowner who hires workers throughout the day.

Some begin early in the morning.

Others are hired at noon.

Still others don’t begin until the final hour before quitting time.

When the workday ends, everyone receives exactly the same wage.

Immediately, the workers who labored all day cry out:

“No fair!”

From a human perspective, they seem justified.

After all, shouldn’t greater effort produce greater reward?

That’s exactly the assumption Jesus wants to challenge.

A Different Economy
Our culture teaches us that value is earned.

Work harder.

Do more.

Perform better.

Receive more.

The Kingdom of God operates differently.

God’s blessings are never wages earned.

They are gifts freely given.

THE DANGER OF COMPARING OURSELVES TO OTHERS
Pastor Schobert illustrated this truth with a fascinating experiment involving capuchin monkeys.

One monkey happily accepted a cucumber as its reward.

Until…

It saw another monkey receive a grape.

Nothing about the cucumber changed.

The only thing that changed was the comparison.

Suddenly what had been satisfying felt unfair.

Comparison has the same effect on us.

When we focus on what someone else has received, we begin to overlook everything God has already given us.

Gratitude disappears.

Entitlement grows.

Joy is replaced with resentment.

WE FORGET THAT WE WERE CHOSEN TOO
The workers who complained completely overlooked one important truth.

They had been hired.

They had work.

They had provision for their families.

They received exactly what had been promised.

Yet instead of celebrating their blessing, they became consumed by someone else’s blessing.

How often do we do the same?

Grace Cannot Be Earned
The rich young ruler believed eternal life could be earned through good works.

Peter wondered what reward the disciples would receive for following Jesus.

The workers in the vineyard believed they deserved more because they had done more.

Each example reveals the same misunderstanding:

Grace is never earned.

Grace is always given.

Salvation isn’t payment for performance.

It’s the generous gift of a loving Savior.

GOD CAME LOOKING FOR US
One of the most beautiful observations from this parable is that the landowner didn’t send someone else to find workers.

He went himself.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Throughout the day, he returned to the marketplace searching for people who still needed hope.

Pastor Schobert pointed out that the landowner didn’t need more workers nearly as much as the workers needed him.

That changes everything.

God wasn’t looking for employees because He lacked help.

He was looking for sons and daughters who desperately needed grace.

The story has always been about His compassion.

WHAT IF WE’RE THE ONE-HOUR WORKERS?
The turning point of the message comes with one powerful question:

What if we’re not the twelve-hour workers?

What if we’re the one-hour workers?

What if we’ve received infinitely more than we’ve ever deserved?

What if we were the ones left standing in the marketplace with no hope of provision until the generous landowner came looking for us?

That’s exactly where every believer finds themselves.

God found us.

God rescued us.

God welcomed us.

God blessed us.

Not because we deserved it.

Because He is good.

GRACE CHANGES THE WAY WE SEE OTHERS
When we truly understand grace, comparison loses its power.

Instead of resenting God’s blessings on someone else…

We celebrate them.

Instead of competing…

We rejoice.

Instead of keeping score…

We become thankful.

People who know they’ve received undeserved grace become people who freely celebrate grace wherever they see it.

OUR RESPONSE IS GRATITUDE
Pastor Schobert reminds us that our obedience is never payment for God’s blessings.

It’s our response to them.

We don’t work so God will love us.

We work because He already does.

We don’t serve to earn His favor.

We serve because we’ve already received it.

Everything we have is evidence of His goodness.

Every blessing is another reminder that God has always been more generous than we deserve.

GOD’S GRACE IS BETTER THAN FAIR
If God gave us exactly what we earned…

None of us would have hope.

The Gospel is beautiful precisely because it isn’t fair.

Justice would give us what we’ve earned.

Grace gives us what Christ earned on our behalf.

That’s why every believer can stand with humble gratitude and declare:

“I’m thankful God isn’t fair.”

I’m thankful He’s merciful.

I’m thankful He’s compassionate.

I’m thankful He’s generous.

And I’m thankful His grace continues to pursue people who are still standing in the marketplace today.