from Twenty-five to Thirty-five

“And said unto them; Go you also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. And they went their way.”

The reason for employing these people must have been gracious.

Surely the good man could have waited until the next morning; but he charitably chose to employ the needy ones at once. He did not need laborers, but the poor men needed their pennies.

Certainly it is sovereign grace alone which leads the Lord God to engage such sorry laborers as we are.

Let us inquire—

I. HOW MAY THE LORD BE SAID TO GO OUT?

1. Inasmuch as the impulse of grace comes first in every case, and none go into the vineyard until he calls them.

2. Inasmuch as there are times of revival, when the Lord goes forth by the power of his Spirit, and many are brought in.

3. Inasmuch as there are times of personal visitation with most men when they are specially moved to holy things.

II. WHAT IS THE HOUR HERE MENTIONED?

It represents the period between 25 and 35 years of age, or thereabouts.

1. The dew of youth’s earliest and best morning hour is gone.

2. Habits of idleness have been formed by standing in the market-place so long. It is harder to begin at the third hour than at the first. Loiterers are usually spoiled by their loafing ways.

3. Satan is ready with temptation to lure them to his service.

4. Their sun may go down suddenly, for life is uncertain. Many a day of life has closed at its third hour.

5. Fair opportunity for work yet remains; but it will speedily pass away as the hours steal round.

6. As yet the noblest of all work has not been commenced; for only by working for our Lord can life be made sublime.

III. WHAT WERE THEY DOING TO WHOM HE SPOKE? “Standing idle in the market-place.”

1. Many are altogether idling in a literal sense. They are mere loafers and dilettanti, with nothing to do.

2. Many are idle with laborious business—industrious triflers, wearied with toils which accomplish nothing of real worth.

3. Many are idle because of their constant indecision. Unstable as water they do not excel. James 1:6.

4. Many are idle though full of sanguine intentions; but as yet their resolves are not carried out.

IV. WHAT WORK WOULD THE LORD HAVE THEM DO?

He would have them work by day in his vineyard.

1. The work is such as many of the best of men enjoy.

2. The work is proper and fit for you.

3. For that work the Lord will find you tools and strength.

4. You shall work with your Lord, and so be ennobled.

5. Your work shall be growingly pleasant to you.

6. Your work shall be graciously rewarded at the last.

V. WHAT DID THEY DO IN ANSWER TO HIS CALL? “They went their way.”

May you, who are in a similar time of the day, imitate them!

1. They went at once. The parable indicates immediate service.

2. They worked with a will.

3. They never left the service, but remained until night.

4. They received the full reward at the day’s end.

Let us pray the Lord to go out among our young men and women.

Let us expect to see such come into the church, and let us guide them in their work, for they come into the vineyard to labor.

Let us inquire if some will come now.

Spades

Have you never thought with extreme sadness of the many men and women upon our earth whose lives are useless? Have you never reflected upon the millions of people who waste in nothingness their thoughts, their affections, their energies, all their powers, which frivolity dissipates as the sand of the desert absorbs the water which is sent upon it from the sky? These beings pass onward, without even asking themselves toward what end they journey, or for what reason they were placed here below.—Eugène Bersier.

All activity out of Christ, all labor that is not labor in his church, is in his sight a “standing idle.”—Archbishop Trench.

A good minister, now in Heaven, once preached to his congregation a powerful sermon, founded upon the words of Christ, “Why stand you here all the day idle?” The sermon did good to many, among whom was a lady who went to the minister the next day, and said, “Doctor, I want a spade.” We should be happy to put spades into the hands of all our idle friends. There are Sunday-school spades, Mission-room spades, Tract-distribution spades, Sick-visitation spades, &c., etc. Who will apply for them?—Home Evangel.

What can I do the cause of God to aid?

Can powers so weak as mine

Forward the great design?

Not by young hands are mighty efforts made.

Not mighty efforts, but a willing mind,

Not strong, but ready hands

The vineyard’s Lord demands;

For every age fit labor he will find.

Come, then, in childhood, to the vineyard’s gate; E’en you can dress the roots,

And train the tender shoots—

Then why in sloth and sin contented wait?

To move the hardened soil, to bend and lift

The fallen branch, to tread

The winepress full and red, These need a stronger arm, a nobler gift;

But all can aid the work. The little child

May gather up some weed, Or drop some fertile seed,

Or strew with flowers the path which else were dark and wild.

J. H. Clinch.

“Are you not wearying for the heavenly rest?” said Whitefield to an old minister. “No, certainly not!” he replied. “Why not?” was the surprised rejoinder. “Why, my good brother,” said the aged saint, “If you were to send your servant into the fields, to do a certain portion of work for you, and promised to give him rest and refreshment in the evening, what would you say if you found him languid and discontented in the middle of the day, and murmuring, ‘Would to God it were evening’? Would you not bid him be up and doing, and finish his work, and then go home, and enjoy the promised rest? Just so does God require of you and me that, instead of looking for Saturday night, we do our day’s work in the day.”