GOD'S BUSINESS HEART

Our God is a business man. His business has been called by a number of titles. In Matthew 20 it is called a vineyard. Recently I was struck again with God's heart for His business.

We are introduced to the householder, the vineyard owner, in the opening verse of the chapter. The first sixteen verses are a parable and in it the householder pictures our Heavenly Father. It is the householder's personal involvement in finding workers that has recaptured my mind. Remember, God's business is a multifaceted, global work. He has thousands, perhaps millions, of branch offices. Each branch needs capable workers.

Today larger businesses have an employment office. It may be called the human resource office or go by some other name. Whatever it is called, those working in it are charged to hire the right people. The "big" job openings, of course, are handled by "the boss". He will personally interview the applicants and then he will hire who he wants. The "smaller" or "lesser" jobs are dealt with by the human resource people. They hire the assembly line folk, the secretaries, the computer techs, the maintenance workers, etc. These tasks do not require the boss' personal touch. These, you see, are the lesser tasks.

Do read this Matthew 20 parable and look at who it is that is doing all the hiring. It is the owner Himself! So important is this vineyard work to God that He personally seeks out workers. No underling is given this assignment. This vineyard is vital and its success is the passion of the owner's heart.

HIS PASSION

We need to see the passion of God for His business. The vineyard work must be done and it requires many, many laborers. The Lord does not simply hire at the beginning of the work day, the first hour. He is so passionate about the vineyard work that He wants it done while the fruit is ready. He is consistently calling workers.

It appears, from verse three, that some laborers were not in the employment office at the first hour. Some came in later. That they were late was of no consequence to the Father. He was very willing to use them. These went out with the full assurance that they would receive a just and right wage.

More startling yet are those hired at the eleventh hour (v.6). These do seem to have been in the employment office from the first hour but had not responded to the call for workers. It appears they sat through the third hour call, the sixth hour call, and even the ninth hour call. Still, at the eleventh hour, the owner calls yet again. Does He chide these idle workers? Yes. But, does He hire them once they have seen their need to work? Oh, yes.

The preacher in me is moved to break my flow of thought to askthis question. In what hour did you respond to the owner's call to work for Him? Perhaps you have been saved for years and you are now in your retirement years. You feel that your laboring years must surely be past. Friend, this may be your eleventh hour, but God still needs you and will use you.

GRACE

I return to the parable and again my heart is overwhelmed. This time it is over an old but well known trait of the vineyard owner. It is His grace. Please read verse fifteen. It ends with these words, "because I am good." We serve in a business whose owner is by His very nature good and generous. But there is more!

After being challenged about His pay scale (vs.11-12) the householder responds. His answer is not an earthly one but heavenly. "Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee" (v.14).

The Holy Spirit had multiple words at His disposal to say "I will". In moving upon Matthew to write, the Spirit used a word that says much about the Father's heart. The Greek word behind "I will" means the owner took delight in giving these last what he gave the first. Did the last workers labor as long? No! Did they bear the heat of the day? No! How in the world could these one hour workers get equal pay with the twelve hour ones?

It comes down to just this. It delighted the Father to give it to them. It brought Him overwhelming joy to see the faces on these eleventh hour men as they got a reward they knew they had not earned, merited, or deserved.

If you will let me come and preach this passage at your church we will break into song at this point.

"Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe; You who are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive?"

Oh, I know the focus of the song is on salvation while our vineyard parable is about service after salvation, but it is God's grace that has my heart. Dear friend, work for God! His rewards are generous. He is a good owner. Even if you have let His call to service go by many times before, hear it now and respond. Will He chide you for your prolonged idleness? Yes, but let this parable ring in your soul. He will invite you into His vineyard and reward you handsomely.