The Upper Room Devotional 4th February 2026, Wednesday Message
More than Enough
Ree Pashley (Indiana, USA)
Today’s Reading
Matthew 20:1-16
Are you envious because I am generous? – Matthew 20:15 (NRSVUE)
One of my kids has an innate sense of fairness. He can be counted on to divvy up snacks so that everyone gets their fair share. When it comes to chores, he insists that if he cleaned the table then it is only fair that his sister should do the dishes.
I tend to gravitate toward a strict sense of fairness too. However, when I reflect on it, I realize that the “fair” approach is often based on certain limiting factors: the kids take turns because there is only one jump rope; we portion out the strawberries because there are only a handful left. But what if there were an abundance of strawberries? What if there were unlimited scooters, jump ropes, and trampolines for all the kids? Who would worry about the number of berries each child ate or how many minutes each child played with a toy? We wouldn’t — because there would be more than enough.
It’s easy for me to resonate with what feels like the unfair treatment of the first, early-morning workers in Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard. They received the same pay as those who had worked only a few hours, and it doesn’t seem fair. But the answer Jesus gives doesn’t focus on fairness. Instead, he points out the generosity of our Father God. God’s grace is inexhaustible and abundant. God always gives us more than enough.
Today’s Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the gift of your grace, which you lavishly pour out on us. Help us to show grace to the people we encounter today and every day. Amen.
Thought for the Day
There is an abundance of grace, and God gives it generously.
Prayer Focus
Day laborers
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That’s Grace
The Upper Room Devotional 4th February 2026 is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. Read More