The attitude of the laborers

We have each been individually called to serve the Lord. In our churches and ministries we corporately serve God and minister to each other, and to the unsaved. Though we travel through this life as a temporary home, our works leave a tangible legacy of Christ’s life through us, changing destinies and establishing His kingdom on this earth. As His servants, what should our attitude be concerning the fruits of our labors?

Jesus told a parable about tenants laboring in a vineyard for their landlord. At harvest time the landlord sent his servants to collect the portion of the fruit due him. From this story we see that our labors are not entirely our own. We work in the field, or vineyard the Lord calls us to . . . yet He retains ownership, and wants some fruit in return.

There is a difference between owning your own land, and being a tenant in someone else’s land. If a people own the land they work, all they produce is theirs. But if a people labor as tenants in someone else’s field, then they must pay tribute. In this parable the tenants did not want to give any fruit, or tribute to their landlord. When the son came to collect the fruit, the tenants said “Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.” (Mt 21:38) This would have allowed the tenants to keep everything for themselves.

Because of greed men have broken peace with other men, and nations have gone to war against other nations in order to keep all they labor for. And because of selfish ambition men break peace with God, refusing to have requirements of payment laid on them.

Jesus made it plain that it was not the works of the tenants alone that would keep them in the kingdom of God. He asked “ . . . when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” (Mt 21:40). We see that the Lord is looking for someone to bear fruit, not for themselves, but for Him. If we have selfish ambition and do great works for ourselves, we cannot fool Christ.

How do we know the intentions we have that motivate us to serve God? Jesus told us that we know a tree by its fruit (Mt 7:20). He went on to say that “Not everyone who says to Me ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 7:21) This seems to be a strong argument for the importance of the works alone, but look at what the Lord says next; “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’” (Mt 7:22-23). Doing the works without yielding our hearts to Him will not give Jesus the fruit He desires. We will not become acquainted with Him and His ways if, when He comes to collect fruit for Him, we say “no, I want it for myself.”

Today let us renew our hearts in our service to the Lord, yielding our wills to His will as our Lord. This will keep our attitudes concerning our works in alignment with the scriptures, and we will have the great reward of knowing God. Amen.