“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.’” – Matthew 20:6-7 NKJV
REFERENCE:
The laborers in this text waited almost all day to get hired until the landowner came at 5 pm (eleventh hour) to hire them. Jesus said, “Work during the day, for the night comes when no man can work.” The day speaks of the productive and youthful season of one’s life, while the night implies old age. These men spent almost all their youth looking for gainful employment or a business but had no opportunity because, as they said, “No one hired us.”
If you have a job, a thriving business, or a successful career, God smiled upon you; He met you early in the ‘day’ and hired you. It is not because of your school degree or pedigree but because God favored you. He made a way and pulled some strings for you to be where you are.
There are many standing at the roadside of life or in the unemployment market, hunting, submitting proposals, closing down their shops, going for the umpteenth job interview with no hope of success, getting sacked because of economic conditions, failing another professional exam, not had a source of income for months or years, and the list goes on. Don’t move on as if your job, career, or business is a birthright; no. It is a notable thing that God has done for you.
You may not do this often, but may I remind you that while you are complaining about your job, there are still people out there waiting to get hired, and time isn’t waiting for them. So, praise God for the privilege to have been ‘hired’ early in life when you could have still been waiting till the 11th hour (5 pm). However, if you are still ‘standing’ in the marketplace, waiting to be hired, thank God because Jesus, the Ultimate Employer, is on His way to changing your story.
It does not matter where you work, your profession or salary, how low sales are, or how slow things are moving; you are one in a hundred. Rejoice, for the story could have been different. Sing for joy that you were ‘hired!’ Thank God for your boss, colleagues, customers, partners, clients, employees, patients, and patrons. Thank Him for retainer-ships, professional affiliations, your shop, office, building site, firm, etc. I am glad your testimony isn’t “No one hired us.”
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY:
John 9:4, Ecclesiastes 9:10-11, and II Thessalonians 3:10-11.
PRAYER POINTS
+ Father, thank You for ‘hiring’ me and allowing me to work. I thank You for those connected to me because of my work.
+ I praise You for blessing the work my hands have found to do.
+ Lord, thank you because You will still meet me at ‘5pm’ and hire me. It is not too late for me.
