Jump Start # 807

Matthew 20:1 “For the kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.”

We are looking this week at one of my favorite parables, the laborers in the vineyard. This parable emphasizes the generosity of God. Our God is good. He treats us much better than we deserve.

This is a complex parable that involves several people being hired throughout the day. The men who were picked first, most likely around 6 A.M. worked all day. They were told in advance what they would make. They went knowing. The others who were hired later in the day were told that they would get paid “what is right.” The common thought would be less than a day’s wage since they were not working the entire day. That is what was expected.

Two thoughts for today.

First, the men who were hired first knew what they were getting. There was no surprise. There was a sense of security and comfort in knowing. As they picked grapes that day, their minds would calculate just how they would spend that wage that they were getting. There is comfort in security, in knowing. Late at night, with the doors locked, and for some with a security system set, there is a peace of mind, a sense of safety. Fear is a terrible place to exist. Fear of the known. Fear of failure. Fear of not making it. Some live this way. They love God, worship Him regularly, try to do what He says, but deep inside fear that they may not make it.  They fear that there was more that they should have done. They fear that they have disappointed God. They fear that when God looks upon them, that He will shake His head NO.

These first workers were chosen. They were told what they would receive. There was a peace and a security for them. The subject of security and salvation often makes some run to extremes. One extreme is that God saves us and there is nothing that we can do that will change that. That doesn’t make sense, is not logical, and cannot be supported Biblically. If it doesn’t matter what we do, why is most of the N.T. addressed to Christians about how they are to conduct themselves? It seems to matter to God. Certainly, a person can lose their salvation. The Corinthians were told, “take heed lest ye fall.” Fall from what? God’s pleasure, salvation. The Galatians were told a similar thing. Paul told Timothy that some “shipwrecked their faith.” One extreme is that we cannot lose our security. Not true.

The other extreme, is that we never know. We lack security. That thought puts everything upon us. It’s up to us. In that way, we aren’t secure, either. We cannot do enough, pray enough, praise enough, give enough. We cannot earn our salvation. This extreme leaves us feeling unsure, guilty and lacking confidence. We hope, but doubt. We’d like to think so, but probably not. We cannot enjoy our salvation with God because there is more that we need to do. More. More. More. Push. Push. Push. This extreme says that we are saved by grace, but acts as if we are saved by works. It is guilt driven. God is never pleased with us. God is the parent who sees the report card and says, “You should have done better.”

Salvation is not totally up to God, nor is it totally up to us. It’s a combination. The first men hired, had to go to work. They would not get paid for nothing. They had their obligation, but it was the master who was hiring, paying, and providing the opportunity. We are saved by Grace, through Faith. It’s not saved by grace period. It’s not saved by faith period. It is saved by grace through faith. God hires. We go.

There is something about security. Paul had it. He said at the end of his life that he fought the good fight, kept the faith and completed the course. He knew there was a crown awaiting him. Paul knew. God had promised. Our God is good. He can be pleased. In the parable of the talents, the master said, “well done, good and faithful servant…” God can be pleased with what we do. Hand in hand with God is how we journey through this life. Like a child walking with his parent. Sometimes, like that child, we want to let go of the hand and run on ahead. We come back, and take hold of the hand once again. Security brings peace, confidence and assurance. We are saved by God’s grace. God loves us and wants us.

A second thought here is that the first group hired could not do all the work themselves. The work was greater than they were. More were hired. Not once, but four more times. It didn’t matter how fast or how much harder they worked, they could not do it themselves. Others were needed.

That is a lesson for all of us. Sometimes we don’t want others. We just as soon do it ourselves. We wear ourselves out trying to do everything, not including others nor allowing others the opportunity to be engaged in the work of God. Some preachers are like that. They try to do everything. Some elderships work that way. Pride will exclude others. Opening the door for others is the will of the Master. It was the Master, not the workers, who hired more. It was the Master, not the workers, who wanted more. It is not our call, nor our place to exclude others who want to help in the kingdom.

The other workers were chosen later. They were not picked first. They may not have been as talented, gifted, or as hard a worker as the first group. Yet they were needed. They could add to the work force. The master wanted them. If the first group was arrogant, they could have easily made things more difficult for the other workers. Tension among the workers would have stifled what could have been accomplished. Letting others know that they are not as good, talented, needed or wanted as you, only kills the unity and lessens what can be accomplished. “You weren’t picked first, like I was,” doesn’t need to be said.

We need more workers. We need all workers. Some will be better than we are. There is not room for jealously. Some may not be as good as we are. There is no room for pride. Focus upon the work. Get busy. Do what you can do. Invite others. Include others. Help others.

The master has a work. He needs us busy engaged in that work. The work, is telling the world about Jesus. People need to be invited. Questions need to be answered. Bible studies need to be taught. Classes need to be held. Sermons need to be preached. Everyone has a part in this. Everyone is needed. Everyone can do part.

The Master is calling us. Will you go to the fields for Him?

Roger