Eternal Vineyard

Matthew  ​20:​8​

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’

I would not even know where to begin to describe the strains of running a business. God has placed me out of work for five weeks now, depleting funds rapidly, yet providing incredibly. He has laid a vision on my heart and is beginning to provide for it. In the midst of this incredible storm, with people close to me questioning my decisions, I have the peace of God and see the hand of God at work. I told someone yesterday that he is our CEO, I just manage the work he provides.

I read the parable of the workers in the vineyard this morning (Matthew 20:1-16). Much of the context of the parable is how the Jews were called first, then the Gentiles. All were called by the Gospel into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew Henry put it, “Till we are hired into the service of God, we are standing all the day idle: a sinful state, though a state of drudgery to Satan, may be called a state of idleness. The market-place is the world, and from that we are called by the gospel. Come, come from this market-place.” Everything in this world desires to take your eyes off God. When he calls you through the power of the gospel, your are called out of this world into his vineyard. You are called to focus on the reward of your wages in heaven. An eternal focus will produce a great heavenly reward. One that continues to focus on the world, even after being called by the gospel, receives the warning found in, Matthew​ 20​:16​ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Nothing in this world matters except how you use the knowledge of the Gospel each day. Does your love for your Savior exude from your daily life, or is Sunday the only time people think you are a Christian? You will bow before God one day and he will ask you what you did with the knowledge of his Son that died for you. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians​ 2​:9-11 My prayer is that the gospel has so stirred your heart, that your every day you are hard at work in an eternal vineyard. Every thing, every day, every day you live can be used to draw glory to the One who provides you the opportunity to live in eternal paradise.