38. Work In The Vineyard

Sermon 38 Work In The Vineyard

Many are the parables found in the Bible taught by the Son of God from different standpoints, illustrating all practical points in the religion of Christ.

In this lesson we find him taking a parable that all farmers are familiar with. Knowing that man must work where required by the proprieter to get the reward. Jesus reckons the life of a Christian from that standpoint.

But a few thoughts incidental to the lesson we will notice:

• Notice that the reward was promised after (not before) the work was done. The same thought is true in the church of God, when we are commanded to do good to all while we have opportunity, and not to become weary in well doing, for in due time we shall reap if we faint not (Galatians 6:8-10).

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• We notice that the work upon which the reward was predicated must be done in (not out of) the vineyard. This should forever settle the mind of the moralist, who is continually arguing that there are just as good men out of, as in the church.

Admit that proposition to be true, then ask yourself the question, does Christ require us to work inside or outside of His church? It inside, no man is doing His will who works outside. Neither was the reward promised to an outside worker.

..........1. There might have been many vineyards where they were, but it A hired workmen in his vineyard and they worked in B's vineyard instead then A was under no obligation to pay them for their labor. The same thought is true in the church of the living God. If Jesus calls us to work in His vineyard or church, and we go and work in some human church, or human society not found in the word Of God, then Jesus is under no obligation to give us the reward.

Therefore it is not enough that you belong to a church, but do you belong to the church that Jesus built? In becoming a member of this church you do so by faith and obedience to His word. Nothing short of this faith and obedience ever makes us children of God.

But as this lesson is intended for those who are servants in the vineyard, I will dwell upon the work we must do there.

Why should I work?

Because my eternal happiness depends upon the same (Php 2:11-12; Matthew 25:16-30). God has called me to work. not to play.

Remember that every call from the third to the last hour was for workers. There is no place found for idlers in the kingdom of God. Then, dearly beloved, if you have heard the call, go into the vineyard and work for Jesus while there. The church expects you to do your part, and this outside world which is judging the system of Christianity through the practice of its adherents, expects you to work in the vineyard of the Master. As Adam and Eve were placed in the garden of Eden to dress and keep it, so God has called you to His church, and expects you to work till He comes to call you home.

Then, if I am called to work, and not to idle, I ask myself the question:

2. What kind of work must I do?

Examine yourself and see what you are able to do. Are you able to preach? It true, go; if not try to help someone else to go. Are you able to teach as an elder? It not, study and prepare yourself. The church is a body, and all are members of that one body, and each member should try to help another. Perhaps there are some sick, or some in trouble or some one not working that you could influence to work. Do all you can—learn to sing, learn to pray, learn to talk of Jesus and His love, and from a thousand different channels you will find work to do.

3. How much work must I do?

In this you must be the judge. The man who had only one talent, and did not improve that, had to give an account for the same. While you may not be able to do much, yet God calls upon you to do what you can. If a man is able to improve ten talents, and improves only five, he has no more promise of heaven than the man who would not improve one.

God holds you just as responsible for your financial ability, as He does a man for his intellectual ability. Then, be up and doing that you may finally be eared.

Under the government of the Jews, God required them to give one-tenth of all they made. Does God think less of His church now than He did then? Ii' not, can you be saved and give less than they did then? I have serious doubts about a man's salvation who gives less than one-tenth of all he makes. Do you know how much you do? Do you know how much you give? Look at the numbers in the vineyard. Some look to be strong; others are weak, broken off and dying. How much have you given to bring them back to life? What have you done to bring the wanderer home to God? The reckoning will surely come, and how sad it will be it you are not found working when the time comes!

4. When must I work?

You hare no promise of being able to work tomorrow. Are you able to work today? While you have opportunity do good to. all. Today's opportunity may not come tomorrow. Many lives are lost and many souls are ruined in waiting till tomorrow to do things that should be done today. Then let us work while it is yet day, for the night cometh when no man can work. If you see no opportunities make them. This world is full of opportunities for working men, and he who desires to work need not wait.

5. What is the final end of those who do not work?

You will find the answer in Matthew 25 th chapter, in the case of the unprofitable servant. He had the same opportunity as the others had in the same vineyard. He had the same master, and expected to have the same reckoning, but was so afraid that he would do something wrong that he did nothing, and was cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Again, ten virgins were invited. All had lamps, and at one time all were burning; all had the same invitation, and all heard the call; and all started to go, but, sad to note, five of them had not been careful enough, and were cast out into the darkness of night, and failed to enter into the marriage had.

6. What will be the reward of the man who is a faithful worker in the vineyard of the Master?

We learn that Jesus has told us of a city whose maker and builder is God; whose streets are paved with gold; of that place where sweetest music shall be heard and where the purified shall forever dwell; of the tree of life from which the sons of God can eat fruit and live forever; of the home of the soul where loved ones together shall dwell.

Do you want to be there? You can if you will. Why not, then, labor and toil on while here, that when life, with its conflicts and sorrows, fond expectations and disappointments, shall close the angel of death shall kiss the eye lids down to rest, and you will be at home in the city of our God.