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"Every opportunity of coming together and enjoying their mutual fellowship in faith and hope must be welcomed and used for mutual encouragement. Our author exhorts his readers to continue meeting together the more earnestly because he knows of some who are withdrawing from the Christian fellowship. Paul had urged the Roman Christians to welcome one another for God's glory, as Christ had welcomed them (Rom. 15:7). But towards the end of the apostolic age we are made aware of a tendency in some quarters to withdraw from the Christian fellowship." - F.F. Bruce, Commentary on Hebrews, Eerdmans, 1979, p. 253. |
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This week I wanted to offer some encouragement from this parable in
Matthew. As we look at the parable we should note that in verse 1
God is the householder. As christians we are servants to Him:
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That
he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ
may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and
grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is
the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love
of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all
the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19).
After reading the parable we see an amazing and comforting spiritual
lesson on grace. The householder went and hired men at different
hours of the day. He started early in the morning and hired some
laborers, then went back at 9 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m and hired more
each time. Finally, with only about one hour remaining in the
working day (5 p.m.), this time he returns to find there are some
still seeking work to which the question is asked in verse 6: "Why
stand ye here all the day idle?". The form of the question seems to
indicate a bit of suprise that these men had still remained
unemployed. To which the reply came: "Because no man hath hired us".
This points to the fact that it wasn't that they were unwilling to
work, but that no one had hired them. These were the ones rejected
by the other employers and found unworthy.
The householder hires them as well, but notice that when it comes
time to get paid each laborer no matter how long they worked got the
same wage. The ones who worked longer grumbled that the ones hired
later got special treatment. However, they had no right to do this
as they we paid according to what was agreed upon. Let's first take
a look at this. This indicates that God is no respecter of persons,
He owes no man anything; all things will be done according to His
good will which at times is very, very difficult for us to try and
understand.
Now lets look at the last laborers who were hired at five o'clock.
The fact that although they were suffering from being unemployed
throughout the day, in the end they received a special blessing
after being the last to be accepted, that being having worked the
least amount of time for the same pay.
This is the nature of the gospel and suffering for Christ. Many who
are blessed with material things of the world and are at ease in
their spiritual lives do not seek the LORD because they are not
experiencing times of trouble.
"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven
you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have
known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men,
because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little
children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you,
fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I
have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the
word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John
2:12-15).
In order to draw His elect children, God will often use afflictions
as a way to humble them to obedience. Afflictions will be visited
upon Christians by the world and will often be intense:
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in
all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are
in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted
of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our
consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted,
it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the
enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we
be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope
of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the
sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. For we would
not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in
Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch
that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in
ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which
raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth
deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us." (2
Corinthians 1:3-10).
These afflictions must be endured by the saints:
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an
evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (2 Timothy 4:5).
This is the hardest part of suffering, the enduring. As one's
endurance is being tested there's one Biblical piece of advice that
may help. God is altogether true, He is the very essence of holiness
and truth; therefore He is true to His words. Moreover, in His word
He tells us that He is our Provider and Deliverer. Our LORD also
makes us this beautiful and wonderful promise in Psalm 34:
"The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of
all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken
heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the
afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of
them all." (Psalm 34:17-19).
As mentioned earlier, when we suffer we cannot always understand
God's will, we have no idea how long His discipline will fall upon
us, we can only keep the faith knowing that all things are done
according to His good timetable as well as His good will.
Although when we are enduring discipline from the LORD we should too
realize that some good qualities may be produced. A person who has
undergone much intense suffering can use the experience in the
future to identify with the suffering of others and minister to
them. This is part of the gospel call, if we see a brother or sister
suffering and do not minister to them we're telling them by our
actions that we don't love them.
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless,
you have done well to share with me in my affliction." (Philippians
4:13,14) nas.
This is commendable Christian conduct that all should strive to do.
We must also remember each of us as individuals suffers to different
extremes; God physically blessed men such as Abraham for example in
many ways; while in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus we see
the believer as someone who was never blessed with physical
happiness. As Christians, we are all brothers & sisters making up
the body of the bride of Christ, the eternal church. This is where
charity (love) begins:
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do
good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of
faith." (Galatians 6:9,10).
Finally, the parable concludes with the summary: "So the last shall
be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.".
This is a very important teaching because it is found over and over
and over again in the parables of our LORD Jesus Christ (examples:
matthew 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30).
Dear reader, are you suffering and heartbroken? What are your
afflictions this day? Look to God's Word; He works all things
together for the good of His children, even by much affliction. He
has also promised His children that suffering will altogether cease
for them when they go to be with Him; there will be no more tears
for eternity future. Blessed be the LORD God from everlasting even
to everlasting. Praise our LORD!
"Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye
may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also
suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense
tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled
rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with
his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that
know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to
be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that
believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day."
(1 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they
shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be
their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and
there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.
And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."
(Revelation 21:3-5).
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