Harvest
And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.” Matt. 20:6-7
The laws of Moses served as a social security system. God promises to provide daily bread, and the God who cannot go against His word provided means for everyone to eat: “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners… nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger.” (Lev. 23:22) Instead of trying to squeeze every drop of profit out of a field, the Lord commanded His people to leave what remained after harvest for those with no other means than to glean.
In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, men of various abilities were hired throughout the day. At the crack of dawn, the eager and industrious. At the last hour, those no one would hire. Notice they weren’t too bothered by that fact. Whatever the reason no one found them fit for employment. The next day, the leftovers were theirs. But instead of letting them wait, the landowner let them in the field early… and for pay! The unskilled few ended up doing the same thing they would have anyway, one last run through the leftovers. The only difference was that they received enough to feed their family for some time to come.
The Savior who chose fishermen and tax collectors despises no vocation. Every drop of holy, precious blood squeezed from His bitter labor on the cross grants you eternal profit. However, the privilege of earning your daily bread is reward in and of itself. It is written, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Col. 3:23).
Send me, O Lord, into this day in a manner which invites others to the vineyard, to direct others to the Savior who makes every labor light! Amen.