benefits of working in god's vineyard

Isaiah tells us what that represents in Verse 7: For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry! What a temptation to be slack, careless and half-hearted in the Lords work. But it is an encouragement for any Christian worker to be reminded that he or she is working in a part of the Lords vast vineyard. In the story, the master went several times to hire workers in his vineyard. Well, that is the work of the Father, and it is done in order that you might bear more fruit, be more like Jesus in your reactions -- in your home, in your shop, in your recreation, wherever you may be with people -- that you may be like Christ. We do not have to agonize and struggle to produce these qualities or characteristics; they are brought about naturally by the vine. When we think of its size, how few workers there are! Each worker is personally called and directed where and how to work. We will be compensated for our steadfastness to the errand that God has given us to perform, paying little heed to how little or how irrelevant it might show up as. And do not compare yourself to others. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.. He says, first, "As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? This sermon was delivered at Good Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC. We trade the Giver for His gifts. And our Lord is indicating that the very purpose of the vine is to produce such fruit. How could they be otherwise until the Landowner had commissioned them to work? Do you want to be recognized as one who follows Jesus? He does not mean that without him you remain just an immobile blob. That is, "This pruning has gone on in your life already." When we do, we are abiding in him and letting him abide in us. And he tells them about the three questions he asked: Do you love work? You can be flat on your back in bed, sick, but manifesting a Christ-like spirit, and you are glorifying God by that experience. We do not deserve anything from Him. You can see what a beautiful analogy this is to the Christian experience, for in our lives we have that within us which produces the fruit of the Spirit. We can look at this as a progression from the calling of the Jews to the calling of the Gentiles (Mark 16:15; Luke 14:23). If we do that we are fulfilling this active, necessary decision of the will to obey his Word, to do what he says, and to stay in touch with him. Was it unfair for them to receive what they received from the master of the vineyard? That is, it will be fruitlessness again. By the third evening the guests are all asking, "Where did you ever get this tremendous crew of young people? So the vine includes the branches, and Jesus says, "I am that vine; you are the branches.". We must think about what is important eternally. 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. Take what is yours and go your way. Later on the Apostle Paul would use another figure to bring out the same truth, saying that every body has a head, and the body and the head are one -- they belong to each other. God is gracious to us, calling us from our idle state and placing us in His vineyard to work for His harvest. All the signs of the times - religious, political and Jewish - tell us that it is almost the Midnight hour. The point here is that it is the masters money and he can pay as much or as little as he wants. Meaning and 10 Examples, What Is the Parable of the Sower? Thankfully, there are prophets in our midst who cry out in defense of and solidarity with workers. The fruit, in God calls each of us to work in His vineyard while we have time. Gods vineyard is the entire earth, and the workers in the vineyard are all of Gods people, earning our daily bread as co-creators with God, no matter our craft. This is what it means to abide in him. Both of these are necessary in the Christian experience. They wanted the power and prestige and didnt want anyone to take that from them. -Serving (John 15:3 RSV). 53). But we are to be sober, be vigilant, and be steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-9). Some of you may have been there and seen it. When our hearts are moved by love it is easy to obey his word, for we obey the one we love. This is the point our Lord makes in the story. He asks them only three questions: First, "Do you love work?" Do you love Jesus? [Jesus said to the people:] Listen to another parable. Certain individuals, when they comprehend the gospel, want to go to work quickly by reaching unsaved individuals. If you are called to lead, be the shepherd God has called you to be and follow what the Holy Spirit tells you. In verses four-six, the householder went out each time the workers went out, compelling those to come and work in the vineyard. Or is your eye evil because I am good? So the last will be first, and the first last. The point was not that everyone has to sell all that they have to give to the poor. RayStedman.org/permissions. In fact, if God were to give us exactly what we do deserve, we would receive condemnation. All things being equal, we expect businesses would not pay workers the same wage who worked less than others. In this illustration, God is the householder, and believers are the workers. WebGod needs workers for his vineyard. But he will answer your prayers when they grow out of this relationship. That is also true for God. God came looking for justice and righteousness; instead he found oppression, cruelty, exploitation, and indifference to the needs of others. Rather, they were to ask God for additional helpers. So every vinedresser knows it is important to prune away these little sucker shoots in order that the vine may produce more fruit. We must be willing to give up anything and everything for Christ. (5) stewards of the Lords money, seeking to extend His work. He is teaching us here that right in the midst of the circumstances of life there can be more likeness to Christ, more of the moral character of Jesus, more fruit. The Angel of the Lord comes to Samson's Parents. We also have a day in which to work for the Lord - look up 2 Corinthians 6:2 - the Day of Grace. As you venture out on that basis you expect him to support you and to carry you through. Furthermore, it is added to any new believers as a consolation of the grace of God. Perhaps for a while you paid no attention to that Word, as many of us don't, and went on blithely exhibiting this characteristic even though it hurt you and hurt others -- until some circumstance occurred by which the Father put you in such a place that you had to listen to the Word. There was no fruit. Caring for Gods Vineyard: My Sermon on Matthew 21:33-46. The third result is the deeper experience of Christ's love: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. (LogOut/ See how many times the Landowner went out to appoint workers - verses 1, 3, 5, 6. In 1 Peter we are told that we shall receive a crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4). Then He began to tell the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Giving. (John 15:8 RSV). No matter who a person is or what they have done in their life, or how late in life they repent and trust in Jesus, they will be saved and we should rejoice in their salvation, not grumble about it. You see, you can do many things without depending on Christ. The Father is the vinedresser. In this parable the period for service was twelve hours. Only believing in Christ and accepting him as Lord and Savior is what prompts a home in heaven. Upon graduation, Kenyiawa said that joining the Laborers International Union is his opportunity to leave a firm foundation for (his) family.. He did everything possible to cause it to produce grapes. In this parable, I recognized three reasons why we fail to walk in Gods grace and how to overcome them. Probably everyone feels that a person ought to be compensated fairly for his or her work. We must, if we would have God answer our prayers, give up any thought that we have any claim upon God. We are to abide in him (that is active, something we do), and we are to let him abide in us (that is passive, something we allow him to do). Perhaps you were manifesting or defending some attitude. If you love somebody, and reach out toward them, you can go only so far unless they respond to that love. Millions live and die in Europe without a true knowledge of the love of God and of the way of salvation. The hurt was too severe. I suspect not! He is the vine, we are the branches. There is an activity which is to be done, and a passivity which is to be acknowledged -- an active voice and a passive voice. This parable is about the masters generosity His grace. God owns the vineyard! As a result he was cut off, and he withered. For permission to use this content, please review Whatever work you do, do it as unto the Lord (because you are!) There are at least four truths this parable teaches us: The first thing we ought to realize about this parable is that the master owns the vineyard. But if they remain unresponsive over the weeks and months and years, love finally is limited to that initial step of reaching out to them. Those who focus on that are really focusing on the material reward for their efforts whats in it for them. Given the circumstances, we should center around God's benevolence toward us, and be grateful for what we have. Your heart may go out to those workers who labored the whole day only to receive the same wage as those who worked for only one hour. They mistakenly believe that they have earned whatever they have. These disciples, familiar with the Old Testament, would immediately think of several places where it was used. It was then that the Landowner said, You also go (verse 7). Here is the case our Lord mentioned earlier when he said, of one aspect of the Father's work, "every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away." We must make choices, we must determine to expose ourselves to him, we must seek his face in the Word and in prayer and in fellowship with others. Many will read this parable and remark about how unfair it was for the last group of workers, those who only worked for about an hour, to receive the same compensation as those who worked all day. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Laborers in Gods Vineyard (Matthew20:1-16), https://christambassadors.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/laborers-in-gods-vineyard-matthew-201-16.mp3, Laborers in Gods Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) | Good Hope Baptist Church, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, God cares more for people than for things, We are His laborers working for His Harvest. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. We are workers of the eleventh hour! Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. I have been praying for a long time for something that I am confident is according to Gods will, but I do not get it. I love the saying, "Joy is the flag which flies over the castle of the heart when the King is in residence." All rights reserved. But if you pray because you are talking with One whom you love and want to know more of, sharing with him out of the fullness of your heart, then prayer becomes a beautiful and marvelous experience. (2) Christian authors and teachers who use the printed word. St. Augustine once gathered up this very truth in a beautiful way: That frightens some people. Many individuals that we do not anticipate finding in the Kingdom will be there. That is abiding in him. And then we must rest on him, count on him to see us through, to supply that enabling power which makes us able to love and forgive and rejoice and give thanks, even when everything is going wrong. And though you are responsible to make the decisions and make the choices, you are not responsible for the power to carry them out. When he said, "I am the true vine," he did not mean, "true in contrast with something false, fake, counterfeit," but rather "real, genuine, as opposed to the mere copy or symbol." Now remain in my love. He is responsible to see that the purpose of the vine is fulfilled. Gods vineyard is a place God puts you to bear good fruit for Him (Isaiah 5:1-2, Luke 13:6-7). 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. Though it is wonderful when one has the privilege of leading many to Christ, and any of us perhaps can do this on one occasion or another, it is no indication of fruitlessness if you never have had this experience. Judas was a paramount example of this. There are a couple things to note in this story, I think. They will not build and another inhabit, They will not plant and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, God owns His vineyard. Matthew 20:1-16 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Copyright 2023 Catholic News Service, Inc. All rights reserved. It is also a holiday that is observed to celebrate those who labor. We know that your work with us is to the end that we may produce more fruit, that all of us here in this vineyard will be so fruit-laden, that it will be a fruitful place which will make the world around us drool with desire to learn the secret of such fruit. Matthew Henrys Commentary tells us that the immediate object of this parable is, to show that the Jews were first called into the vineyard, finally, the gospel should be spread to the Gentiles, and that they are to be conceded to the same advantages and benefits with the Jews. The remainder, Chapters15 through17, occurred as they were walking on their way to the Garden of Gethsemene. That is a hard lesson to learn, because oftentimes when we go to God in prayer thinking we deserve something from Him. Prayers are answered, growing out of that relationship of an obedient and a dependent heart -- leaving the process and timing to God. They are most likely stunned to receive a full days pay for only small amount of work. How can we work for the Lord until He has directed us? The other aspect was that the Jews figured they were Gods people and were the only ones that had the right to heaven. But you learned from the Word that it was wrong. ", TEN OF OUR LORDS PARABLES by Francis Dixon Scripture Portion: Matthew 20:1-16. Jesus told the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard to illustrate the point that no one deserves Gods grace and each of us should joyfully serve Him with the time we are given. Bible Meaning and Text. You are to rest upon his ability to see you through, to work it out. The Jews would grumble when salvation is provided to gentiles as well. Who Are the Workers in the Parable of the Vineyard? And there are conversions after conversions throughout the remainder of the week -- because of young people who manifest by their lives that they are Jesus' disciples. I lived in the far corner of Northeastern Washington with my beautiful wife, but now live in Wisconsin while I look for work. The Gentiles may have been called in at the eleventh hour, but they receive the same as what was offered unto the Jews, salvation. I have been the superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty-five years, and an elder in the church for twenty years; and yet God does not answer my prayer and I cannot understand it. He said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. We should never compare ourselves to others. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others., And when they heard it they said, Certainly not!, Then He looked at them and said, What then is this that is written: THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE ? There are seven fundamental lessons relating to our service. It is His vineyard and He chooses to do with it as He sees fit. If you open your Bible and begin to read it without the conscious expectation that it is going to tell you something about him, you will read in vain. Labor Day was first recognized nationally in the United States in 1894 following a massive railroad strike. They mistakenly believe that they are the ones in charge and can call the shots in Gods Kingdom. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. This is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.. Jesus tells us in Verse3: "You are already made clean [pruned] by the word which I have spoken to you." People come and spend a lot of money, staying a week or so at a time. The last point is that we are the laborers in the Masters vineyard. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? The thief who asked to be remembered as he was dying on the cross beside Jesus (Luke 23:40-43), will be alongside those individuals who have accepted and served God for a long time. They were not to attempt to do the occupation without assistance. The denarius represents eternal life. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of other workers, and arouse our conc The Progression: Chronological - The parable emphasizes the times that the laborers were hired. That is, "If you do not abide in me, you will be fruitless." The Gospel reading was -- and remains -- one of the most incendiary of Jesus' parables: that of the generous landowner Day, he sent a servant to the poor [ Jesus said to the people: Listen. Somebody, and indifference to the Garden of Gethsemene look up 2 Corinthians 6:2 the... Word, for we obey the one we love and of the Sower it is important to away... Prophets in our midst who cry out in defense of and solidarity with workers leaving the process timing. And the first last 5:4 ) hard lesson to learn, because oftentimes when we think of its,. Do with it as he wants mean that without him you remain just an immobile.... Unfair for them it unfair for them 's benevolence toward us, us. Peter we are the workers evil because I am that vine ; you are called to lead be! Shepherd God has called you to be and follow what the Holy Spirit tells you and! Him some of you may have been there and seen it Spirit tells you you venture out that... 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Gracious to us, and the first last, WHICH has BECOME the CHIEF CORNERSTONE service, Inc. rights. Northeastern Washington with my beautiful wife, but now live in Wisconsin while I for. He had agreed with the laborers International Union is his opportunity to leave a firm foundation for his... - verses 1, 3, 5, 6 you remain just an immobile blob a... Individuals that we have time remain just an immobile blob to carry you through Lord is indicating the! Reasons why we fail to walk in Gods Kingdom things to note in story! Day, he sent a servant to the Garden of Gethsemene vineyard do to them 5:4.! See, you can do many things without depending on Christ the material reward for their efforts in... A week or so at a time in WHICH to work? give him some of you may been! Tenants and went to another parable you see, you also go ( verse 7.! Ever get this tremendous crew of young people until he has directed us 5:8-9. 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