ATTITUDE TOWARDS WORK – SLOTHFULNESS OR DILIGENCE? (Part 11).
Matthew 21. Verses 28-31read:
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
In today’s passage, Jesus uses a parable to explain some truths about work as a father makes demands of his sons. God, as the Heavenly Father, sends his sons, also known as the sons of the kingdom, into his vineyard or his kingdom to work. Work is essential in building or advancing the purpose of the kingdom of God, and this responsibility falls directly on believers or the sons of the kingdom.
In today’s text, we see two separate attitudes towards work in demonstration by the two sons. These reflect the common attitudes seen in the lives of most believers when duty calls. To the first son, the Father said, “Go and work today in my vineyard.” There will always be work for believers to do in God’s vineyard or his kingdom. Work is essential for the sustenance and progress of God’s kingdom.
In his response, the son said that he wouldn’t go, but he later repented and went. This response reveals some critical points that believers must take seriously. Whereas the Father’s bidding was done, this response to work falls short of the standard of the Father. This is evident in the son’s initial outright rejection of the Father’s instruction. He told the Father that he wouldn’t go. This is a demonstration of the son’s unwillingness to do the Father’s bidding. This unwillingness led to delayed response to the Father’s command, as this son went through a process of repentance before the work was done. Delayed obedience could sometimes produce the same results as disobedience. Let us stay off delayed obedience towards the commands of the Heavenly Father.
The repentance of the son also indicates that his heart was originally not aligned with the Father’s. Beloved, we can not work for the Heavenly Father with hearts that are at variance with his. There is a call on sons of the kingdom who drag their feet at the Father’s call to duty to repent of this negative attitude so that they can better partner God to promptly do what he wants done on earth. May we be willing sons of God who promptly act on his call to work in his vineyard.
SHALOM 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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