This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
(Matthew 20:1-16 ERV)
1 “God’s kingdom is like a man who owned some land. One morning, the man went out very early to hire some people to work in his vineyard.
2 He agreed to pay the workers one silver coin for working that day. Then he sent them into the vineyard to work.
3 “About nine o’clock the man went to the marketplace and saw some other people standing there. They were doing nothing.
4 So he said to them, ‘If you go and work in my field, I will pay you what your work is worth.’
5 So they went to work in the vineyard. “The man went out again about twelve o’clock and again at three o’clock. Both times he hired some others to work in his vineyard.
6 About five o’clock the man went to the marketplace again. He saw some other people standing there. He asked them, ‘Why did you stand here all day doing nothing?’
7 “They said, ‘No one gave us a job.’ “The man said to them, ‘Then you can go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “At the end of the day, the owner of the field said to the boss of all the workers, ‘Call the workers and pay them all. Start by paying the last people I hired. Then pay all of them, ending with the ones I hired first.’
9 “The workers who were hired at five o’clock came to get their pay. Each worker got one silver coin.
10 Then the workers who were hired first came to get their pay. They thought they would be paid more than the others. But each one of them also received one silver coin.
11 When they got their silver coin, they complained to the man who owned the land.
12 They said, ‘Those people were hired last and worked only one hour. But you paid them the same as us. And we worked hard all day in the hot sun.’
13 “But the man who owned the field said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am being fair with you. You agreed to work for one silver coin. Right?
14 So take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same pay I gave you.
15 I can do what I want with my own money. Why would you be jealous because I am generous?’
16 “So those who are last now will be first in the future. And those who are first now will be last in the future.”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Principle of Last Being First and First Being Last.
— This principle is a recurring theme in Jesus’ teachings, challenging worldly notions of status and hierarchy. In short, Jesus did not look at the world the way most people in the world did. As followers of Jesus, we must learn to look at things from heaven’s point of view.
— In God’s kingdom, the usual order is often reversed, highlighting the value of humility, service, and a willingness to do things the way God is leading you to do them, even at the risk of looking foolish or being misunderstood. The owner of the vineyard in the parable was not concerned with social norms or people’s opinions. He did what was in his heart to do, even though his generosity was uncommon and met with anger.
— This concept encourages us to serve with a heart of humility, knowing our reward, in the spirit, is not based on earthly standards.
— The last being first and the first being last is a call to reevaluate our priorities and align them with God’s values. It also causes us to be OPEN to God’s FAVOR (when we are the ones who are last and being pushed to the front of the line) and even THANKFUL when that favor is being poured out on others (when someone else is the recipient and not you).
— It challenges us to live with an eternal perspective, understanding that our earthly positions do not determine our spiritual rewards, both now and in the world to come.
— Embracing this principle fosters a spirit of unity and equality within the body of Christ because we are free to genuinely celebrate the goodness of God when it is showered on us or our brothers and sisters.
2. The Grace of God’s Timing.
— Just as the landowner hired workers throughout the day, God knows that different people will respond to His call at different times in their lives. Therefore, God has orchestrated plans for His children based on His foreknowledge of our decisions.
— Said another way, God does not cause us to be delayed. But since He knows that some of His children will not respond until later in life, He prepares situations for them (meaning us) to make the most of the time we walk with Him.
— Whether early or late in life, God’s grace is available to all who respond to His call, showing that it’s never too late for God’s grace.
— We should rejoice when others find their way to God, regardless of the stage in their journey, celebrating God’s timing in the lives of others.
— I am working with someone who feels like he wasted years and came to God late. I
keep reassuring him that it is not too late and God is more than capable of redeeming the time! Relax. Enjoy the time you have with God, no matter how old you were when you started walking with Him.
3. The Joy of Serving in God’s Vineyard.
— Working in the vineyard (in this parable) is a metaphor for the joy and privilege of serving in God’s Kingdom. In short, serving God is a privilege.
— Whether we are called to serve in prominent or behind-the-scenes roles, every service is valuable in God’s eyes, emphasizing that every role is important.
— There are no “Big I’s” and “Little You’s” in God’s Kingdom. Every person and every call is unique and valuable.
— If you are called to run a mechanic shop, and you do so with excellence, serving your community and being a blessing to your customers, then in God’s eyes, you are no less valuable than your Pastor. Just because one is called to preach from the pulpit and the other is called to serve from the shop, in God’s eyes, both are doing what they are called to do. Please do not allow a religious person to cause you to feel “less than” who you are in Christ just because they are evaluating people by position. God calls us all to do unique things, and no calling is more valuable than the other in God’s sight.
— No matter what your calling is, you should do it with gratitude, joy, peace, generosity, and grace, knowing that you are doing what God called you to do.
— God into this day knowing that your calling is calling you! No matter what it is, do it as unto the Lord and do it with a spirit of excellence.
4. The Challenge of Human Perspective.
— The disgruntled workers represent our limited human perspective, which often conflicts with God’s divine perspective, pointing to the need to overcome earthly perspectives.
— We are called to see life and justice through God’s eyes, not our own, which involves embracing God’s viewpoint.
— The landowner’s response teaches us to trust in God’s fairness and wisdom, encouraging us to learn from the landowner.
— As we grow in faith, our perspective shifts to align more with God’s, leading to greater peace and understanding, which is about transforming our mindset.
— In both this parable (the workers) and the last one we looked at (the prodigal son), we see situations where people were complaining because the character who represented God in the parables (the landowner and the father) was so good! The older son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son and the disgruntled workers in the Parable of the Workers were upset because God was being good to someone else. Instead of celebrating the goodness of God, they complained with a “what about me?” attitude!
— You must be careful not to allow a “what about me?” attitude to form in your heart. What God has for you is for you. There is enough to go around in God’s Kingdom. God will never run out. WE CAN ALL WIN! So chill out and genuinely celebrate when someone else is winning. Your turn is coming! Greater is coming for you!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
I acknowledge that in Your kingdom, the last are first, and the first are last, so I commit to living with this heavenly perspective.
I trust in Your perfect timing, knowing that Your grace is sufficient for me at every stage of my journey.
I rejoice in the privilege of serving in Your vineyard, recognizing the value and importance of every role You have assigned to me and my brothers and sisters in Christ.
I commit to overcoming my limited human perspective, seeking to view life and justice through Your eyes.
I learn to trust in Your fairness and wisdom as I align my mindset with Yours.
I refuse to harbor a ‘what about me?’ attitude, choosing instead to celebrate Your goodness in the lives of others, knowing that You have unique blessings in store for me as well.
Thank You, Father, for Your unconditional love, grace, and the joy of being part of Your kingdom.
I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
