God's Great Grace - Part 5

September 10, 2021

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard (Matthew 20:1).

We continue today to outline those truths that can be gleaned from The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.

7.    God keeps His promises. Every time the landowner went to the marketplace, he hired all who wanted to work, promising a reward for their labor. He did not welch on his promise. At the close of the day each man was given what he was promised. The landowner did not fudge on the wages because of the complaints of a few. He paid what he promised. The Lord grants salvation to those who answer His call to salvation in genuine faith. It is not an ‘iffy’ proposition.

8.    God not only keeps His promises, He also gives more than is deserved. The landowner promised a day’s wage to those who worked the full day. He also gave a day’s wage to those who only worked one hour. In fact, the landowner didn’t have to hire anyone to work the vineyard. Or, he could have skipped everyone else and hired the 5:00 workers. It was his choice, and it was his choice to pay more than was deserved. God’s grace is God’s grace. He doesn’t have to save anyone. He could let us all die in our sin and spend eternity in hell. But He has chosen to save us, a gift that none of us deserve.

9.    Humbleness and a sense of unworthiness is the attitude of those who are truly in need of God’s salvation. The workers hired in the last hour of the workday were humbled that the landowner would hire them when no one else would. Those who were hired early were grateful but lost their humility when it came time to be paid. So it is with the Christian. As time passes, we should grow humbler and have a greater sense of our unworthiness as we serve the Lord in His Kingdom. When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom (Proverbs 11:2).

10.    From beginning to end this entire section is about God’s great grace. The work of the laborers in the vineyard had nothing to do with the wage they received. They received more than they deserved. Even being hired to work was more than they deserved. The same is true with the Christian. Grace is a gift from God. Faith is a gift from God. We do not work for salvation. It is a gift from God. We work in God’s Kingdom because we are saved, not to be saved.

“Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all aspects of Your saving work in our lives. May we be reminded day by day that we are undeserving even of Your notice. Humble us and do not let us believe that we are a cut above everyone else, even in our ministry in Your Kingdom. To Your honor and glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor

 

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