Of Man and Work
The story is told of a man in Tampa who was looking for a Job. He applied at several places without any luck. Walking on the streets, he came upon a man and he asked him if he knew of any place where he could find a job.
—¿Do you know how to fish?—the man asked him.
—¿Fish?—he asked back, kind of puzzled.
—Yes, fish… —the man answered—if you know how to fish I’ll pay you $50.00 dollars a day plus room and board.
—I think that you have found your man: if there is one thing I like to do, it’s got to be fishing.
—The boat is leaving in a few minutes. Go directly to the marina and you’ll find it. Its name is Brandywine. I’ll meet you there in a while and I’ll show you what to do.
The man couldn’t believe it. He had found a great job for just fishing. He was gonna get paid to go fishing! When he got to the pier he found it. It was a great boat. He climbed on board and found himself in fisherman’s heaven: all kinds of fishing gears of all sizes and shapes.
His employer showed up a little later and proceeded to explain what he needed to do.
—Once we are in open sea, you need to take two fishing rods. Put the bait in one of them and throw it in. Take more bait and prepare the second rod. When the fish bites one of the hooks, just take it out and put some bait back on.
—No sweat!—the man said.
So once they were out on the open sea, the man took one of the lines, put the bait on it and throw it out. He had barely began to work on the second line when the first one had already caught a fish. He hurried to throw the second line on the water. He pulled the first line out and he hadn’t finished cutting the fish out when the second line had already caught a fish. So he hurried to set the bait and throw the line out again. He pulled the second line and by this time the first line had caught a fish again. And this continued for the next two hours.
There were fish all over the deck and the man was exhausted. Thick drops of sweat dropped from his brow, while he runned from one line to the other. Finally, in frustration, he dropped both lines on the deck and exclaimed:
—This is not fishing, this is work!
Contrary to the way we view recreation, work is something that we consider with dismay. If we could only live without working! It seems as if we spend all our life working. It seems as if we didn’t have time to do anything else. Yet some hate to work while others turn into workaholics.
People have said a lot of things about work. A Spanish writer said: “Work is the only practical consolation to the fact that we were born.”
Truth is that on this life we’ll find our fair share or work. And I’m sure that you dream of that day when the Lord will take away time and work and our only pastime will be to play an air guitar on a cloud, when there’ll be no more work to do anywhere. It seems as if our motto were: “Until the Kingdom of God, for there will be no work there.”
How do you picture heaven?
Matt. 20:1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.
Matt. 20:2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
Matt. 20:3 "About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
Matt. 20:4 He told them, `You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’
Matt. 20:5 So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.
Matt. 20:6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, `Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
Matt. 20:7 "`Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. "He said to them, `You also go and work in my vineyard.’
Matt. 20:8 "When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, `Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
Matt. 20:9 "The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.
Matt. 20:10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.
Matt. 20:11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
Matt. 20:12 `These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, `and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
Matt. 20:13 "But he answered one of them, `Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
Matt. 20:14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.
Matt. 20:15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
Matt. 20:16 "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
There’s room for everyone
What’s the kingdom of heaven like? It’s a place where there’s room for everyone. It’s a place where everyone has a part. We all have a right to be there.
There isn’t anything as frustrating as looking for work. You and me often complain about work, but there are few things worse than not having work. Only those looking for a job without any luck know what I mean.
During the decade of the 30s this years went through what people remember as the Great Depression. Believe me, there wasn’t anything great about it. The entire country was out of work. Everybody was looking for work. Those were probably the worst years in the history of this country.
Work is a human necessity, though you and me sometimes try not to say NOT! We like to blame it on Adam and Eve. Man, if she had just not touched that apple! Man, if he had just not heard her! Man, if the moon was really made out of velveeta!
But god did not set up Adam and Eve Enterprises after they sinned. Adam and Eve kept themselves busy in the garden.
The kingdom of heaven is a place where there’s work for everyone. The kingdom of heaven is made up of man and women willing to work. The kingdom of heaven is made up of people who find themselves enjoying their way into the kingdom.
Without regard to your origin, your nationality, your age, your education, your sex, and your color, there is a place for you in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is waiting for you, if you only want to come in.
It’s never too late
Jesus not only tells us that there’s a place for everyone in the kingdom of heaven, he also tells us that it is never too late to get into the kingdom.
In the parable we find that the landowner went several times looking for workers. He not only went early in the day, he went back time and time again looking for workers.
Before he told this parable, the disciples had asked Jesus what would be their reward in the kingdom of heaven:
Matt. 19:27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
Jesus’ answer left no doubts in their minds:
Matt. 19:28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matt. 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
I can only imagine how Peter must have felt. Jesus was assuring him an important place in the kingdom of heaven! But I believe that Peter’s joy turn sour when he heard Jesus continue:
Matt. 19:30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
What is Jesus saying? That perhaps others shall take our place? That the kingdom of heaven doesn’t take reservations? That the kingdom of heaven is not first come first served?
The disciples did not understand that to the Master who is first and who is last is irrelevant: what matters is finding yourself in the kingdom. If we put ourselves in their place we can have an idea of how they must have felt. Most of us are willing to be good Christians if we have the assurance of salvation. Man, if I can be sure I’ll be save I’ll even take the trash out and rake the leaves. Man, I’ll even do my homework.
This is why Jesus had to tell them the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. To the Lord any time is good time to enter into the kingdom, while there’s time…
In biblical times they day measured 12 hours, from 6:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening. The question that comes to my mind is: what’s the time in your life? Someone has made a chart in regards to our age and the time of our day of opportunity on this earth:
At 15, it’s 10:25 a.m.
At 20, it’s 11:34 a.m.
At 25, it’s 12:42 p.m.
At 30, it’s 1:51 p.m.
At 35, it’s 3:00 p.m.
At 40, it’s 4:08 p.m.
At 45, it’s 5:16 p.m.
At 50, it’s 6:25 p.m.
At 55, it’s 7:34 p.m.
At 60, it’s 8:42 p.m.
At 65, it’s 9:51 p.m.
At 70, it’s 11:00 p.m.
For most of you it still is early in the day. For some of us it’s getting late in the day.
Jesus is telling us that it doesn’t matter how much you do nor how little you know about him, the reward is the same. It is never too late, and you are never unworthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Does this mean that the drunkard, and the hill-side strangler, and the drug addict, and the pimp, and the nerd at school receive the same reward if they repent than the one who has spent all his life going to church and being a Christian? That’s exactly what it means.
Is this right?
There is a place for everyone in the kingdom of heaven. And it is never to late to enter into the kingdom, while there is time. But, is God just by treating everyone the same? Don’t we deserve a little more for our sacrifices, for leaving those things we loved behind? Don’t we deserve a special treatment, a double size bed, our name on the Dean’s list? Is this right?
In the parable we find three kinds of workers. First, we find those who made arrangements with the landowner and agreed to work for a denarius (Mat 20:2); second, we have those who went to work and who were told they would get “whatever is right” (Mat 20:4); and third, those who were employed at 5:00 p.m. and were told: “You also go and work in my vineyard” (Mat 20:7).
The first group went to work after they made arrangements. The second group went to work expecting to receive whatever is right. The third group went by faith. They weren’t promised anything. They went and worked for only one hour. For one hour’s work you don’t expect to make much. Actually, many times, we would rather not work than get hired for one hour. But they went by faith. When it comes to whether God is just or not, in which group do you find yourself? Are you awaiting your reward because you made arrangements or are you walking by faith? What’s the image that you have of yourself?
When things aren’t going alright. When the girl you like goes for somebody else. When the guy you would die to go out with ends up taking your best friend out. When it seems as if all the teachers at school seem to dislike you particularly, in spite of your natural good-looks and naturally curly hair. When everybody seems to get a break but you. how do you react? Do you think God is still just?
Have you been upset at God lately? Have you yelled at Him lately? Have you asked Him: Why, why, why me? Or am I the only one that goes through those things. I can only imagine looking down at me and asking who do you think you are? Jeremiah exclaims:
Lam. 3:22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
Is God just? We should be thankful because he doesn’t exercise is justice. God is just and he gives you more than you deserve. Sometimes it is hard to match the God of John 3:16 and Calvary and with the same God that turned Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt. That’s the same God that turn king Uzziah into a leper after he’d been a good king for 52 years (2 Cr. 26:1-23). That’s the same God who burned Nadab and Abihu by fire. Is this justice?
The question is misdirected. The question should be pointed at us. God is righteous when we are not punished like Lot’s wife because we miss what this world has to offer. God is righteous when we are not punished by our pride, like Uzziah. God is righteous when he does not punish us for misusing his name, his holy day, and his sanctuary, like Nadab and Abihu. It’s because God is just that we are still alive.
But you have problems? Nobody said that it would be easy! Lies to you he who promises a life of joy and never ending happiness. Jesus never promised that. Jesus said that the road was narrow (Mat 7:14); he said that he didn’t bring peace but a sword (Mat 10:34). Where do we read different from this? If we want to harvest good fruit, we have to work hard. If we expect to have a harvest at all, we have to plant the seeds first.
It’s not easy. Jesus said it wouldn’t be easy. Yet the reward is waiting to all those who labor diligently. Don’t get upset with God, be thankful for keeping you alive in spite of yourself.
In his mercy God has a place for each one of us in his kingdom. In his mercy God waits patently for you and me. It is never to late to enter into the kingdom, while there’s time. In his mercy, God doesn’t exercise his righteousness and eliminates each one of us.
When the kingdom of heaven is mentioned, what image comes to your mind? What do you expect to find there?
His name was Fred--Alfred Smith, if you want his full name. He’d been dead a long time, and he was very, very confused.
To be honest, he’d pictured heaven a little differently than this. He had thought that there’d be trumpets and angelic choirs, enormous gates of pearl, streets of gold, palaces and mansions and robes and crowns and people asking for his autograph. Oh, he knew that what God had in store for His people was beyond all imagining, but this?
“This” was what looked like one of those customs posts you find when you leave Montana and cross over into Canada. It looked like a border-crossing station--right down to the man in the blue uniform that stood waiting for him. To be sure, the man had great white wings, but still...if this was heaven, it was pleasant enough, but somehow it lacked.
“My name is Ramhairshalomoxyribonuclealleluyand...well, call me Randy,” said the angel. “Welcome to God’s kingdom. We’re delighted to have you here with us.”
Fred relaxed slightly. He’d had this horrible suspicion that somehow he might have ended up at the wrong...but no, that was impossible.
The angel continued: “We know that this is what you’ve been waiting for all your life. Let’s see now,” he paused, checking his clipboard. “Ah, yes, it’s a great privilege. We know that you’re going to be very happy washing dishes here.”
Fred’s jaw dropped. “You mean to tell me that I’m going to spend all eternity washing dishes?” he stammered.
The angel coughed, a little embarrassed. “Well, we’d originally had you scheduled to pick asparagus and pole beans, but there seemed to be some sort of delay...well, never mind. You’re here now. That’s what’s important.”
Fred glanced wildly around him. Here? What or where was here? Pick asparagus? Wash dishes? Where was his robe, his crown, his harp? Where was his robe? Here he was, standing at the gates of heaven (at least he thought they were the gates of heaven) dressed in bib overalls, work shoes, and a T-shirt that said “1984 World’s Fair”! What kind of resurrection was this?
The angel continued reading off his clipboard. “Yes, after you’ve washed dishes for a few millennia, you’re on a tree-planting detail. There are also a few planets’ worth of postholes that need to be dug. You’re a very blessed man!”
“Blessed? You call this blessed?” wailed Fred. “I’m condemned to an eternal life of slave labor, and you’re calling me ‘blessed’?”
“But of course,” said the angel. “All of those sermons about serving others and being slaves of Christ and he who would be first must be...”
Fred interrupted. “After all I went through--and now this! I worked my fingers to the bone, paid tithe, gave Bible studies, attended prayer meeting--attended prayer meeting, mind you--And what do I get? What do I get? Streets of gold? Hard labor, that’s what I get! I thought we were going to rule!”
“But... but you get to be with Jesus,” stuttered the angel.
“That’s what I was after!” snapped Fred. “Robes and crowns and a sea of glass--not dishwashing!”
“But that’s what He’s doing!” cried the angel. “ ‘I must be about my Father’s business,’ He said. ‘He who would be the greatest must be the servant of all.’ ‘The first must be...’ ”
“But I never thought He’d take it literally!” Fred slumped, then shook his head. “The Master of the universe washing dishes and picking asparagus and planting trees and digging postholes!”
“Ditch digging--did I forget to mention digging ditches?” said the angel. “Well, never mind--all in good time. Look, of course it’s hard work. You worked hard for Him on earth; you work hard with Him now.”
“But the robes, the crowns, the streets of gold!” cried Fred. “What about them?”
The angel stared at Fred a long, long time. “You get to be with Jesus,” he said finally. “You get to spend eternity with Jesus. Isn’t that what you really wanted?”
What are you expecting to find in heaven? Are you laboring for the streets of gold, the white robes, the crown of stars? Are you laboring to be with Jesus?
The kingdom of heaven is getting closer and closer. Are you ready to spend eternity with Jesus?
