SON, GO WORK TODAY IN MY VINEYARD
Matt. 21:28-31
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: Lazy Son Chinese Proverbs
1. The Chinese have several proverbs about lazy sons. One says they “Mend the fence after the sheep are lost,” which means taking action too late or only so as to not repeat a misfortune.
2. Another says, “Distant water will not extinguish the nearby fire,” meaning that there is no point in waiting for far-off help. Get to it and solve the problem now.
3. Another is “Getting fat by eating one's words” It highlights a son who’s forever retracting what he previously said. It originated as a description of minister Meng Wubo of the kingdom of Lu who often pontificated only to contradict himself. A shrewd commentator suggested that Meng was growing fat because he ate so many of his own words.
4. A last is “One day in the sun and then ten days of freezing.” It was said of the king of Qi, who only showed enthusiasm for a short time while someone was around to encourage him. It came to describe a son who has short bursts of enthusiasm, but no staying power.
B. TEXT
28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
C. THESIS
1. Today we’re looking at this parable of Jesus that tells us we have a job to do for God’s Kingdom.
2. The title of this message is “Son, Go Work Today in My Vineyard.”
I. “SON”
A. THE WHO OF THE PARABLE
1. Who's supposed to go work in God’s vineyard? God’s Sons and daughters. It doesn't say "you who are experienced," or "the preachers should work in the vineyard," or "the talented" or "the deacons."
2. God didn't differentiate which kind of son, but indicated that ALL SONS (and Daughters) were to go work! How many "children of God" do we have here this morning? If you’re God’s child, you're supposed to be working in his vineyard.
3. Now notice that the person he is speaking to was already a Son before going to work in the vineyard. Works don't make you a Son. Salvation is "to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him" (Rom. 4:5, KJV). Works bring you a reward, but you're a Son before you perform any works. Being a Son comes first. You won't get to heaven by paying tithes, joining a church, membership, baptism, etc.
B. WE’RE HERE; WHY ARE WE STILL HERE? SO WE MIGHT:
1. Glorify God by demonstrating His love;
2. Scatter seed of the Good News of Jesus;
3. Alert people to the Second Coming;
4. Like Salt, be a Preservative in the World.
5. God left us here, because we have a Definite Purpose, and we are to be performing it!
6. Imagine how the moral fabric of the world will disintegrate when the Righteous ARE taken out of the world! We are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth!
II. “GO WORK”
A. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO “GO WORK!” (3x)
1. Not "Son, go sit in my Vineyard" or "Go play in my Vineyard" or "Worship in my Vineyard" or "go study theology in my Vineyard." Also notice that we were not told to go work in His house, but his vineyard. Attending church isn't it.
2. Though we’re not saved by works, if we are saved, we will work. There are many Scriptures which say that once we’re saved, we should have good works. Christians are supposed to be:
“Perfect in every good work to do His will” Heb. 13:21
“…may abound unto every good work.” 2 Cor. 9:8.
“…prepared unto every good work.” 2 Tim. 2:21.
“…thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:17.
“zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14.
“…careful to maintain good works.” Titus 3:8.
B. THE WORD ‘GOOD’ IS IN ALL THOSE VERSES
1. You and I meet many people who claim to be Christians but are living in sin. You can talk about faith or sonship all day long but if you’re living in sin you don’t have genuine faith, you have demon faith because James says, “the demons also believe and tremble” (2:19), but they don’t OBEY! Mere intellectual assent does not lead to practical righteousness.
2. ILLUSTRATION
a. I'm reminded of the farmer who had his teenage sons out in the field in the middle of the summer getting the ground ready to plant corn.
b. His neighbor came by and chided him, "Do you need money so bad that you’re working your sons hard to raise corn, while other boys are out swimming or playing?"
c. The farmer replied, "I'm not raising corn, I'm raising men!" It’s not the job that’s important, but the development of our character that’s paramount.
3. God doesn’t look on our outward appearance, but upon our hearts.
C. WE’RE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP
1. For those of you thinking of going into ministry, God isn't calling you to eloquence, to courage, or study or to have a good personality; you may have all of these, yet you will fail unless you work. Work has become a dirty word in the United States of America.
2. We are God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10, NASB), created in Christ Jesus for good works. Nothing is as out of place as a Christian who won't work. It's like a fish who won't swim; or dog that won't bark; or a carpenter who won't build.
3. Jesus said, "Son, go work in my Vineyard!" If you're too tired to "go" work you'll probably be too tired to "go" in the Rapture. You’re supposed to work; whether you're rich or poor, young or old, literate or illiterate, all are called to "go work."
III. “TODAY”
A. NOT YESTERDAY, NOR TOMORROW
1. When? Today! “But I worked yesterday.” Jesus says to go work "today!" “But I'm training to work tomorrow!” No, God says to go work TODAY! Not tomorrow when you finally decide to go into ministry, or when you're grown up, or graduate, or perfect your talents. No, He says to go work TODAY!
2. Why? The work needs to be done NOW. People will die today; they must be reached; you cannot wait until you graduate, or get grown. You are in a unique place now and you must reach them today!
3. Moses was told, "Say ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Not "I was" or "I will be," but "I AM." You don't live in the past -- it's dead. You don't live in a funeral home. You’re not a time-traveler. It’s Today that you’re alive.
B. WORK ALL THROUGH YOUR LIFE
1. Go work ALL DAY. When you're a child in the morning of life, be at work. When you're a young adult, the noontime of your life, be at work. When the sun is setting in the older years of your life, be at work. When you're in your 70s, 80s, 90s – work! You have something to give that a lot don't have.
2. There’s a story about John Newton in his later years. Someone said to John Newton, "You’re old; shouldn't you give up preaching?" He responded, "Never! Jesus said to work as long as it was day, even at sunset."
3. Some would say, "I'll work when I get other aims accomplished." No, that's not today! You and I will give an account for our laziness and complacency. What are you doing for God NOW?
IV. WHERE? “IN MY VINEYARD”
A. WHAT IS GOD’S VINEYARD?
1. What's God's vineyard? It’s the people of God and the ministries and institutions which support the efforts to reach, teach, and send them. Jesus said, "I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!"
2. The trees in the vineyard must be planted, they must be pruned, and their fruit must be gathered. The seed must also be gathered from them to ensure the generations to come.
3. So where does God want us to work? In his vineyard: both the visible and invisible aspects of the church that work to expand the kingdom of God into more and more lives throughout the world.
B. WHY? BECAUSE BEING USEFUL HELPS YOU TOO
1. The Roman aqueduct at Segovia, Spain, was built in 109 A.D. For eighteen hundred years, it carried cool water from the mountains to the hot and thirsty city.
2. Nearly sixty generations of men drank from its flow. Then came another generation, a recent one, who said, "This aqueduct is so great a marvel that it ought to be preserved for our children, as a museum piece. We shall relieve it of its centuries-long labor."
3. They did; they laid modern iron pipes. They gave the ancient bricks and mortar a reverent rest. And the aqueduct began to fall apart.
4. The sun beating on the dry mortar caused it to crumble. The bricks and stone sagged and threatened to fall. What ages of service could not destroy idleness disintegrated.
5. When we stop being useful for God, we start to spiritually disintegrate! Stay busy and stay anointed!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: THE CHURCH NEED YOUR PUSH
1. In the days of the stagecoach, a man undertook a journey. He was informed that there were first, second, and third-class passenger tickets. However, all the seats on the coach looked alike to him, so he purchased a third-class ticket. All went well for a time and the man congratulated himself upon having saved some money.
2. Presently they came to the foot of a very steep hill. The driver stopped the horses and shouted, "First-class passengers, keep your seats; second-class passengers, get out and walk; third-class passengers, get out and push from behind."
3. What we need in the kingdom are a lot more third-class passengers: those who will push! Not first-class, who are content to sit and look on while others are working. Nor do we need second-class passengers who are willing to walk away when the real work comes; but third-class passengers who are willing to bear "the burden and heat of the day."
B. ALTAR CALL
1. Friends, those are the kind of members we need. If you think this is what the church needs and you'd like to be one, please stand.
2. PRAYER
