Title: The End Matters
Memorize: So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ Matthew 20:8 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Matthew 20:1-8 (Nkjv)
[1] “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
[2] Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
[3] And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
[4] and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.
[5] Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
[6] 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?’
[7] 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.’
[8] “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’
Message:
‘The end’, grammatically speaking, is a noun phrase that refers to the final part or conclusion of something. In some cases, “The end’ is used to refer to the final destination of a man when he dies.
Today’s Bible reading tells us the story of a master with many workers. The master employed some workers at 9am and other sets of workers at noon, 3pm, and 5pm, yet they all got the same pay at the close of work.
You may think that this was unfair to those who started working earlier, but the Bible made us understand that the end is what matters.
This parable shows that it is not about how anyone begins a process; what really justifies the process is the end.
For example, if a man had been serving God faithfully for many years and just before he died, he told a lie and did not ask God for forgiveness, he would end up in hellfire.
However, if another man gets born again and genuinely repents of his sins a few hours before his death, he will end up in heaven.
My dear child, it is not he who starts well but he who finishes well that would get the crown of life and other rewards.
Please give your life to Jesus Christ, and let go of any sin if you have yet to do so.
Nobody knows when Christ will come, and trust me, you do not want to go to hell because it is not a pleasant place at all.
Reflection:
Where will you spend eternity – Heaven or Hell?
HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
1 Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah!
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven! Bread of heaven!
Feed me now and evermore,
Feed me now and evermore.
2 Open Thou the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow:
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar,
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer! Strong deliverer!
Be Thou still my strength and shield,
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
3 If I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside:
Bear me through the swelling torrent,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises! Song of praises!
I will ever give to Thee,
I will ever give to Thee.
4 Saviour, come! we long to see Thee,
Long to dwell with Thee above;
And to know in full communion,
All the sweetness of Thy love,
Come, Lord Jesus! Come Lord Jesus!
Take Thy waiting people home,
Take Thy waiting people home.
Bible In One Year: Zechariah 9:1-12, Revelation 17:1-18
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye