His love for the 5 pm worker

October 12, 2025

Matthew 20:1-16
Key Verse 20:7 “ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’”

Why do many of us consider that 'I may be the early chosen worker'? Because of being born in a Christian family? Accept Jesus and go to Church regularly at quite an early age? Or because they have been serving the ministry more than decades?

I think there are not many people who have experienced the day-labour market. During my university years and after graduation, running away from my stepmother's harsh words, I supported myself by using the daily labour market for 2-3 months for survival. In those times, I hurt my back, which started lifelong trouble. I mentioned running away, but not exactly right. I was a hard-working university student. I should earn money and borrow a student loan for tuition and daily living because of the not enough money from my family. I did many part-time jobs during my school years, summer and winter breaks. I did not cheat in exams or assignments. I am never late or skip classes. No time and money to go on dates or parties. I do my best in my university years, but I couldn't get good grades. I was not smart enough. 

After graduating, the recession in the country and my poor marks, I couldn’t get a job either. Like others, the Civil servant exam was the only hope for many unemployed graduates. A stable job is my ultimate goal for life, even before going to university. However, it cannot achieve the time supposed to have, which really discouraged me. To focus on the civil servant exam, I left the UBF, returned home and lived together with my father and stepmother, which lasted for some months. I tried to bear the neglect from my stepmother, but I could not put up with the blame for my late mother from her and my father's speechless agreement. I made a big bow to my father forever and left home with my daily backpack. I met them 3years later and forgave them already, but I still remember the moment when she shouted at me as 'the Satan's child'. 

 Before running away from home, I already earned some money from the day-labour market for 2-3days. So I can rent a place to lay my agonies and weariness in Goshiwon, a small living quarter for study and sleep only, which is the cheapest place to stretch my legs. I can't afford to choose the condition of the room or environment with my pocket money, but I finally felt free. It was July 4th, which is the Independence Day of the US, so I still remember the date. I was discouraged many times by failures after that, but I hustled hard in my life to support myself from that moment on. Not only economically but also emotionally, I need to take charge of my life. 

Literally, I only have a bus fare left to go to the temporary employment agency, the daily-labour market, after I rent the room at Goshiwon. With worry rather than anticipation, I've been waiting before the dawn, around 5 am. Already, the agency was filled with people who were used to these routines of work. Several bosses come with various vehicles of different sizes; cars, buses and trucks. Firstly, bosses came and asked certain skilled persons how many they wanted. Then the agency master calls out the people one by one, which is not the order of when the workers came to the agency, but the skills and the experiences and powerful enough to work for those assignments order first. Actually, around 6 am, almost all skilled persons and strong guys are left with the bosses. 

As I, a new and small-figured man who looks not robust for the construction, sometimes wait for other work bosses to come, like line work for factories or farms. Every time I was waiting to be called, with slightly trembling not only the reason for the early morning's chills. Without skills, only your appearance counts for work. Like the packaged meats of the market, you should look healthy and thick enough to satisfy the eyes of the bosses. As time goes by, only look old and small are left. Around 9 am, the agency master finally tells the left, go home and come back tomorrow. Thankfully, I only heard that 1 or 2 times. I worked hard for the bosses who picked me up, and mostly went directly to that boss's workplace again to waive for agency's commission, which was 10%. Normally, bosses didn't tell their pay of workers would get paid later. 25 years ago in Korea, I got 40-60$ per day according to the bosses and the workloads and the working times. Normally expected to get 50$ for a day's work. Most of the time, I’ve got work to do. However, the day which is not being called not only wastes the time and bus fares but also need to worry about how much money is left for food and the payment of the Goshiwon. 

Turning back to the Bible passage, the owner of the vineyard goes to the labour market 5 times. In reality, no bosses came again to get more workers for the day, after they got the workers from the first selection. Because all bosses knew that if he missed the early selection time, he would get only weak and slow workers. 

As for a worker, even though you were there as the earliest person, you may be the one who goes back home with empty hands if you are not chosen.

Moreover, even though you have skills and are strong enough, there is no guarantee you will get a job without a boss who wants to choose you.

So, even 6 am workers should appreciate the boss who came and chose them to work. Except for the 6 am workers, from the 9 am workers are already leftovers from the selections. Most of them are not enough to work as one person's work for the job. 

So here comes the grace of the vineyard owner. Around 9, 12, 3 pm and finally 5 pm, those workers were hired. The shorter the time to work, the desperation of the workers and the grace of the owner will increase. Finally, the time comes, the time for settled accounts. Beginning with the Last ones hired and going on to the first. Why? Because this is the order of the size of the grateful heart of the workers to the owner. They all got the same amount of money, one denarius. As we saw, the owner calls the workers different times and pays the same amount. He doesn't go with efficiency. As much as he cares for the workers who were left behind, he cares for the hearts of the workers toward him also.

After I save some money from daily labour, not only because of the accident of the back-hurt while carrying heavy equipment on the construction site. I should get a more stable, easier and safer job. Applying for a job was the longest thing I did in my life until last year. I applied for various job positions which I think I could do. I even fell into the weird places to work, which I ran away few times. There were times I begged for mercy to owner to extend time for paying my rent, not only crying with back pain, all alone on the floor. There were days without proper meals and waiting for Sunday to come. 

The one thing I tried to keep was the Sunday service. Wherever I went, because of the job or place to live, I tried to find a nearby good church and fully engaged myself. By God's grace, I met many good people who helped me to support myself. I got a line work job in an automobile factory for 2years, which I could pay back all my student loans and save for the Civil servant exam with full focus. That is the last lingering attachment of this life. 

For the last year of my age limit to apply for the exam, I moved to Seoul. I studied with all the power and resources, and also fully depended on God by attending the nearby church. The Sunday when I finished the final exam, I prayed to God, 'Thank you, God, for letting me study fully the way I want. I don't have any regrets in my life. Now, I am yours, lead me wherever you want me to use.' Right after that prayer, I got a call from a previous church member who came to Seoul to live, and she introduced me to her brother, who serves UBF. Five years after I left UBF as I graduated, I came back that Sunday and met the Kwan-Ak 1 UBF Chapter leader, Changwon Kim. Next Sunday, they plan to have the Summer Bible Conference, so I quickly rented a nearby place and prepared my life-testimony and served or attached that the UBF for 5years until I came to Canada. At those times, I also tried to get a stable job, but I couldn't. Even though I studied for 1year for a like PSW course by spending my savings and was laid off from the clinic, which I barely got that job after 5months, I really cried out to God,  “Why didn’t you bless me even though I serve you in many ways, otherwise let me die peacefully”. I hit rock bottom in my life. I see only darkness coming from myself. There is nothing good from me. However, with prayers from the ministry, I started finding thanks topics in my life, and I recovered from the despair. 

Looking back from this 50-year birthday, it is God who has helped me this far with everything I have. Even though there was a darkest birthday like 27 and 28th, which was nothing I can see from those times, but I still remember the resolution, “I will remember these days of hard times, it will be the fertilizer for my later times of happiness.” It is God who sustains me and blesses me, who could not easily say, even a simple greeting to the new members of our ministry, without practicing many times in my head. Yes, this is who I am, who was blaming, 'No one has hired me'. 

However, you chose me in your vineyard, even I cannot do one person's work for your ministry. I do not deserve to get a denarius, the salvation. This is only by your grace. I am grateful for your mercy. After this worship service, I need to go back to work for tonight's night shift as the same as last Friday and Saturday nights. I will do my daily work sincerely and humbly, waiting for your Kingdom to come like the wise 5 virgins with a lamp, with a grateful heart of oil  

One word: All that I can do is thank you, God who calls me to your vineyard.