A laborer worked for his master for three full years, faithfully performing every task assigned to him. When the work was finally done, he approached his master and asked for his wages. "Pay me," he said, "so I can return to my wife and children."
The master replied: "I have no money." The laborer asked for cattle instead. "I have no cattle," said the master. Land? "I have no land." Grain or fruit? "I have none." Even clothing? "I have nothing to give you." The laborer slung his empty pack over his shoulder and walked home with nothing, his heart heavy but his spirit unbroken.
And here is the remarkable part: the laborer judged his master favorably. He did not curse him or drag him before a court. Instead, he reasoned that there must be some good explanation. Perhaps the money was tied up in a business venture. Perhaps the cattle had been pledged as collateral. Perhaps the fruit had not yet been tithed and therefore could not be used. Perhaps the clothing had been dedicated as a votive offering to God.
Some time later, the master appeared at the laborer's door with a caravan of donkeys loaded with goods — money, food, drink, and fine garments. He paid the laborer everything he was owed, and more. Then he confirmed every one of the laborer's charitable assumptions. The money had indeed been invested. The cattle had been pledged. The fruit was untithed. The garments were consecrated.
"You judged me favorably," the master said. "May God judge you favorably in return." The Rabbis taught that whoever judges others with a generous eye earns the same generosity from heaven.