We read in Proverbs 22:29, “Do you see a person who is efficient in his work? He will serve kings. He will not serve unknown people.”(GW)
When a person gets a good job, their entry to that job is only the first step. Their goal should be to fulfill the expectations of their superiors, and to efficiently accomplish all that is entrusted to them. For instance, we have medical professionals like doctors and nurses who serve patients. However, the way each one treats their patients is varied, and you will notice that patients who have to come back for treatment will prefer those doctors or nurses who treated them well. So also, if you go to a bank you will notice some of the officials will treat the customers with much curtesy. This is true of government offices or any other place of work. Generally anyone who joins a new job will do so with a desire to serve well, and do something meaningful for society. Sadly, as the years roll by, many become slack and careless in their work because they fail to understand the purpose for which they had been hired.
We too as children of God need to understand the purpose for which God chose us. Yes, we know we are children of God when we have repented of our sins, and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour and Lord of our lives. This is only the first step, and if we don’t go further to comprehend the purpose for which God has called us to be His children, we will never be able to accomplish His plans for our lives.
The parable of the two sons
We are going to meditate on a parable that Jesus taught as found in Matthew Chapter 21.
In Matthew 21:28 we read, "Now, what do you think? There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the older one and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' (GNB)
This parable that Jesus taught talks about a father who had two sons, and the father was the owner of a vineyard. The father requested his son to go and work in his vineyard.
Any father will be elated when his son carries on the work that he was involved in, and does it much better than the father himself. So also, our heavenly Father yearns that not one person should perish or that one person should die without having their sins forgiven, and end up in hell. This was the precise reason why God the Father sent His son Jesus into the world. Only through the death of Jesus on the cross, who bore the sins of all mankind is the sins of everyone who believes on Him is forgiven. Becoming a child of God is only the first step, and a great privilege, but this is not the end in itself. The Lord Jesus wants us to carry on the work of the Heavenly Father that He has entrusted to us.
Here are two important reasons why we have been chosen to be the children of God.
1. Do God’s will
2. Accomplish the work He has purposed for us
The way Jesus did this
We read in John 4:34, "My food," Jesus said to them, "is to obey the will of the one who sent me and to finish the work he gave me to do. (GW)
Food is one of the most essential thing for our sustenance, and most of us eat three to four times a day. However, Jesus declared that His food was solely to obey the will of the Father who sent Him, and to complete the work that He was sent to do.
Also in John 14:31 we read, “but the world must know that I love the Father; that is why I do everything as he commands me.” (GW)
Here again Jesus proclaimed that He loved the Father, and that was the reason why He did everything the Father commanded Him to do.
The son who refused but repented
Let us continue with the parable as found in Matthew 21:28-29, “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. (ESV)
When the father requested the elder son to go to work in his vineyard, the son’s immediate response was in the negative. There could have been two reasons for this refusal to obey the father. One could have been his rebellious nature. Secondly, the son might have had his own agenda which he wanted to carry out, and hence he would not have been willing to let go of his own personal plans.
Have you noticed how there are some children who will do the exact opposite of what their parents ask them to do? They will do what they forbid them to, and not do those things that they request them to do. No wonder the word of God teaches us that folly is bound up in the heart of a child. These rebellious children will only do what they want to do. There are also others who want to do their own thing to fulfill their own desires, and such people often manipulate the word of God to suit their own selfish desires.
However, we read in verse 29, that the son who initially said ‘no’ to his father, had a sudden change of heart. He felt sorry for that decision and repented.
The bible gives us many examples of those who had this change of heart and repented of their ways. Remember the Samaritan woman whom Jesus encountered, who was living an immoral life. As soon as she had that conversation with Jesus, there was immediate transformation and she ran into her town to proclaim to everyone about Jesus. We also read about Zacchaeus, the tax collector, who extorted people and took more than was due from them. However, when Zacchaeus met Jesus there was a complete change, and his life became a blessing to many. Only when there is repentance or change of heart we can serve the Lord in His vineyard. There are many who think that they can serve God without having this genuine repentance, and this is an impossibility.
To those who wanted to follow Him and serve Him, Jesus was forthright that such ones should be willing to deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Jesus. We may sing that we have decided to follow Jesus, but this is meaningless if we do not in our day to day life deny ourselves, and are not ready to carry the cross to follow after Jesus. The path of following Jesus is a unique one, and this is made possible only if there is a sincere change of heart. Without repentance we cannot serve God as He wants us to, or fulfill the purposes that He has for our lives.
The response of the second son
The father then goes to the second son and this was his response.
We read in Matthew 21:30, “And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.” (ESV)
These two sons represent two groups of people. The first group are those who actually oppose the Lord, but in due course they repent, and begin to obey the commandments of God. It seems the second group are those who appear to be very obliging and respond in a positive manner, but in reality their deeds are contrary to their words. This kind of dichotomy in the lives of many believers is the sole reason why they are unable to be an effective witness for the Lord. We must sincerely ask God to ensure that our words and deeds go hand in hand, with no contradiction whatsoever. Oftentimes our lives are the only bibles most people will read.
No room for hypocrisy
This is what Jesus says about those whose word and deeds don’t match in Matthew 23:3, “So you must obey and follow everything they tell you to do; do not, however, imitate their actions, because they don't practice what they preach.” (GNB)
Even in the days of Jesus there were many who did exactly this, where they said something, but practiced something else. We must examine ourselves to see if what we profess, and what we practice go hand in hand. The entire chapter of Matthew 23 is a warning to believers about the sin of hypocrisy, where the words and deeds never matched. If there is any form of hypocrisy in our lives, we will be unfit to serve the Lord in His vineyard. Many people are leading lives of failure only because of this dichotomy. Only those who do the will of God can fulfill His plans the God has purposed for them, and will be worthy to work in His vineyard.
We must analyze our lives to see if we are like the first son who said he would not go and later repented and went, or if we resemble the second son who said he would go, but did not keep his word. Are we fulfilling the will and desires of our heavenly Father, or are we content to do things that please and gratify our selfish desires? The answer to this question will determine our eternal destination.
The importance of doing God’s will
We read in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (ESV)
While one son did the will of his father, the second one pretended to honor his Dad, but did his own thing. If we want to enter the Kingdom of heaven, it is imperative that we be those who do the will of God in our lives. Let us examine our hearts to see if we are obeying the will of the Father in every little aspect of our lives.
There are many who are struggling to find the will of God for their lives. The word of God is the firm foundation that will certainly guide us to fulfill God’s will in every area of our lives. Whatever be the matter wherein you are seeking to know the will of God, all you have to do is go to God in prayer. Our God is a living God, and if we look to Him in prayer, and read the word of God diligently, we can be sure that the Lord will remove all the confusion so that you can perceive His will in that matter.
There are many who are not willing to patiently wait on the Lord, and hence they run to others who could pray for them so that they could comprehend God’s will for that particular situation. If the person whom you go to for prayer is in the will of God they will guide you aright, and if not, you may be led astray to make a wrong decision that could cause much harm to you. Those who seek the Lord in prayer and follow His word will certainly be in the center of God’s will, and will not falter in any way.
So many people are in confusion about the will of God with regard to their family, job, children, their future, their education, marriage and many other matters. Our topmost priority is to find out what is God’s will in every aspect of our lives, and as we do so, everything in our lives will become orderly, and fall into place.
The testimony Jesus received from God the Father
The Lord Jesus who fulfilled the will of His Father in heaven received this testimony. We read about this in Matthew 3:17, and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (ESV) and also in Matthew 17:5, He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (ESV)
Twice there was a voice from heaven that testified to the fact that Jesus was God’s beloved Son in whom God the Father was well pleased. The reason for this attestation was that Jesus was constantly fulfilling the will of His Father, and not His own will.
The testimony Jesus received from men
So also Jesus received such a testimony from men. We read in Matthew 14:33, And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (ESV) and also in Mark 15:39, And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (ESV)
Let us consider our lives, and ask the Lord to enable us to fulfill His will in our lives. God has transformed us to become His sons and daughters, so let doing His will be our priority. In this work of salvation that God is effecting all over the world, may we be worthy and zealous to be part of that great task to serve in God’s vineyard. Only then our lives will become meaningful, many around us will be blessed, and we will receive a good testimony both from God and men.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
