December 2, 2020 1:11am
I was reading Matthew 20 about the Laborers in the vineyard. This story often perplexes many people. It kind of reminds me of the prodigal son. The prodigal son who had left and done all the wrong things was celebrated more than the son who had remained steadfast. Similarly to the story of Mary and Martha. Martha had become very troubled with preparing and doing all of the logistical things for Jesus but it was Mary who was praised for sitting at Jesus feet.Both stories really emphasize the theme that you cannot earn the love or approval from God. You cannot earn righteousness or grace, it is freely given by God for his people.
In this story of the laborers in the vineyard it begins with a master who goes out early in the morning and looks for laborers. The story goes on to say that as the day goes on he agrees to pay all the laborers the same amount. The issue arose when the laborers that Jesus got in the 11th hour were paid the same amount as the laborers first hired in the beginning of the day. The laborers who worked in the heat of the day for many hours felt they should be paid more than those hired in the 11th hourThe gist of the story is when Jesus declares,”Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity? SO THE LAST WILL BE FIRST, AND FHE FIRST WILL BE LAST. Matthew 20:13-16
The Lord began to speak to me, he said “Don’t despise the 11th hour workers”. We are in the 11th hour and my 11th hour workers are rising up. They look alot different than those of the past and I do not want my people to hinder them.There is an ideology of the past generations that you have to pay your dues and do your time to gain the position. You have to put in the same amount of work that past generations have done to accomplish what they did. God is saying this is a new generation and these are the 11th hour laborers.They will not have to earn their position but they will be placed in high position to do my will. Many people will oppose this especially in the church because it goes against societies rules and ways of the past. But cant you see? God is doing a new thing. This is not an excuse to not work hard.It is simply a warning of what is to come.
Be careful that you do nothing to hinder these little ones. Im getting a sense that these 11th hour workers are young and that will be part of the opposition. Part of the reason God is doing this is because of TIME. We don’t have the time to earn our dues. The time is now for harvest and the lord is choosing those the way he normally does. He chooses those that are least expected and often looked down upon. Do not look down on them because they are young.What can we do? Stay in the lane God called you to be in. Uplift and empower the 11th hour workers, pray for them, support them and encourage them to do what God called them to do. Remember the kingdom of God is usually opposite to the way things work in the natural. If it doesn’t make sense pray and ask God for his peace about what we see going on.Matthew 18:16If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.1 Timothy 4:12Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.