September
21 Called to be a
Worker
in God’s Vineyard
The parable you just
heard came in response to a question by Peter: Lord, we’ve given up
everything to follow you. What will we
get?
Lord, we’re trying hard
to follow and serve you. What’s the
payoff?
That’s a fair question
– What’s in it for me?
In reply, Jesus reminds
Peter, and the others, that the
Sounds like a good
deal. Then Jesus concluded: But many
who are first will be last, and the last, first. Matthew 19:27-30
Peter and the others
looked puzzled, so Jesus told them a parable about some workers in vineyard, saying the kingdom of heaven is like...
Given the context of
the story, it seems the disciples – and us – are to identify with those
workers. That growing vineyard is the
coming kingdom – we are workers for the
But what are the wages
the owner pays?
The wages are divine
grace – the steadfast love and mercy of God for undeserving people like us.
As Jesus tells the
story, some are called early in the day, others in mid-morning, some at noon,
and still others near the end of the day.
Yet when it is time to pay them, all receive a full day’s wage. Naturally those who worked a whole day
protest, “That’s not fair. Those people worked only an hour, and yet you’ve
paid them as much as us. We worked all
day in the scorching heat. ” 20:12
The landowner replied: “Friend, I did you no wrong. Didn’t I pay you exactly what we agreed: the usual daily wage that everyone
pays?” Matthew 20:12,13
But he treated the last
the same as the first. Remember when
your kids learned “new math”? Well this
is God’s math. Maybe it doesn’t seem
fair.
Do you want God to
treat you fairly?
Think before you
answer.
Maybe we should have
turned off the A/C to remind some of us what we may deserve.
God doesn’t do fairness
as we understand fairness – and personally I think that is a good thing. Would we really want God to deal with us
according to our works? -- To compensate us in terms of how we’re living our
lives? Don’t think so.
Divine grace does not
rest on the merit system. The love,
mercy and forgiveness of God is called grace – a gift
– because it is more than we deserve.
A Sunday school
superintendent was registering two sisters. When she asked them how old they
were one replied, "We're
both seven. My birthday is April 8th and my sister's is April 20th." The Superintendent replied, "That's
impossible girls." The other sister spoke up and said, "No it's true,
one of us is adopted."
"Oh which one?" The two sisters looked at
each
other and one said, "We’ve asked Dad that question, but he just looked at
us and said that he loved us both equally, so much so that he couldn't remember
which one of us was adapted."
God loves us all,
equally. We are loved, not because we have earned God's love or deserve it, but
because of God's grace.
God’s grace is freely
given – and our response, Paul says, is to live your life in a manner worthy
of the gospel of Christ – to honor Christ by living according to his
teaching. [Philippians 1:27]
In the gospel, Jesus
refers to His followers both as disciples and as workers. As disciples, we are continuing to
learn. We grow by studying the Bible and
by putting his teaching into practice in our daily lives.
But that learning is
training – through His word, the Lord is training us for ministry. Every member
is a minister – that word minister really means servant, for we are to serve
the Lord in our own way. One of the reasons
the Holy Spirit gathers us into churches is so that we can be trained and
equipped for ministry – and so that we can work together in building the
One of the purposes of the church is to offer
you opportunities to employ your
time and talent in service, in ministry and…
…To prepare God’s people for works of
service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of the love
of God, and become mature,
attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:12,13
The church is built up as each part – each and every member – does his
or her work.
But it is not just the church that is built up.
The text also says that
as we serve, we are individually built
up – that we grow in
unity and in faith and even knowledge.
As we serve, we “become mature, attaining the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ.”
In the parable, those
came to work early – and those at mid-day – and those who came late – were all
treated equally. The point is every
worker’s contribution of time and effort is important. There are no “little people” in the body of
Christ, the church – there are no “insignificant” members.
God
has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them just as he wanted them to
be… Even those parts that seem to be
weaker are indispensable. 1 Cor. 12:18,22
Some members work in
the church in very visible ways, and many work behind the scenes – but all are
equally valuable and necessary.
Small ministries often
make the greatest difference. Without
those who work quietly behind the scenes you wouldn’t have a bulletin – or
receive a newsletter. You’d be sitting in the dark because the light bulbs wouldn’t
get replaced – and the grass would be knee-high outside and the flowers
drooping for lack of water. I could go
on, but I think you get the idea. There
are lots of little jobs in the church – but certainly not little in their
importance.
When the land owner called
people to work, he told them Go out and join the others in my vineyard. 20:7
Join the others – be a
part of the team. When the Lord calls us
to work - be a part of His mission- it is an invitation to join with other
believers Not only is every member –
and every ministry important, but everyone is also intertwined with all the
others. No ministry is independent,
since no single ministry can accomplish all the church is called to do.
We must work
together. Our culture emphasizes
individualism and independence. In
contrast, Christ
teaches interdependence and mutuality. So Paul writes in our 2nd lesson:
You
are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind… Philippians
1:27
Most of you are
involved in some way in the work of the church – and some of you are involved
in many ways. Yet there are others who
are still sitting on the side-lines.
Maybe you’re like those players who are sitting on the bench at the game
– waiting for the coach to send you in.
Well, you don’t have to wait. You
can volunteer.
But where should you
serve? There are so many ways a member
can participate in the ministry of the church, that a list would be long and
intimidating. So each week on a bulletin
insert I’ve listed just one or two areas of service in the church. More than a “help wanted” ad, these inserts
remind us of all the work that our members are doing – a way of recognizing
their contribution.
Maybe a couple of
bulletin inserts is not enough to suggest where you might fit in. So next Sunday I’ll talk about how you can
match your God-given abilities, your experiences and your interests to
opportunities to service.
In a Peanuts cartoon,
Lucy tells Charlie Brown that she’s decided to begin a new hobby.
Charlie Brown commends
her decision, saying how important it
is to accomplish something meaningful
with your life. In response Lucy says: “Accomplish something? I thought all we were supposed to do was keep
busy.”
You were created to make a contribution, not to
just take up space. You were made for a
purpose and have a unique role
to play in God’s plan. You are shaped for significance.
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works which God
prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians
2:10
As you begin to fulfill his purpose for your life, by using your gifts –
your abilities - in His service, the Lord energizes you, giving you a
share of His power. His Spirit
fills you with confidence and
enthusiasm, joy and
satisfaction.