For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.
“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.
“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’
“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’
“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16
“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.
“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’
“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’
“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’
“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’
“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.” Matthew 20:1-16
Do you feel like one of these workers who were standing around, waiting to be hired? Do you feel passed over and ignored? Do you feel like you will never get even a small break?
Has your life been less than great?
I personally know of many people who have had horrific lives. Their parents have not parented them. Their parents have walked away from them, or they have been abusive, or they have left them with abusive caregivers.
These folks have raised themselves, stumbling through life completely alone. Basically, they are orphans.
Are you one of the ones I'm talking about?
Jesus is the kind landowner here. He is saying, "Why are you not functioning like others around you? Why are you standing around, looking lost?"
You are saying, "Because no one has ever cared for me. No one has ever given me a chance."
Jesus is saying, "Come work for Me. I will not use and abuse you like everyone else in your life has done thus far. It's time to come home to Your Heavenly Father. You have been last and lost all of your life. It's time for you to be first and found. Age doesn't matter here. You're not too old and you're not too young. You're not too tired. You're not too emotionally spent. Your life will be transformed from the inside out. The pay scale is off the charts. More than you could ever dream, in this life, and the eternal life to come. I am wanting to heap blessings on you. Together, We will make up for lost time. Come home. I love you with an everlasting love."
"Dear Jesus, please help everyone who is lost to look to You today. Please help them to take one baby step. Just to simply turn and look Your direction. I know You will respond by rushing to their side. You have never failed to rush to my side when I whispered Your name. Thank You ahead of time. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN."
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