Deception, Procrastination and Setting Priorities

We are nearing the time of year when school starts again. For most people this means busier schedules, more traffic, higher stress, and the end of vacation season. The intense glare of our hustle and bustle shines on our priorities and proves what they are. Whether or not we are intentional about choosing our priorities falls to us. Either I am the boss, or my schedule is the boss.

If this is true about our schedules it must also be true about our relationship with God. Either we are casual toward the most important relationship in life, or we make intentional choices. Jesus illustrated this principle in one of his parables.

Matthew 21:28-31 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” (ESV)

You could say that one son was a liar, and one was a procrastinator. Both had the same father and the same mission given to them. Their outcomes were entirely different, however. Let me point out a couple of principles that will help you see how this applies to your life.

Mission

“Son, go and work in the vineyard today,” said the father to the two sons. The father in this story represents our Heavenly Father and the sons represent followers of Christ. The vineyard represents God’s work on the earth or the Kingdom of Heaven. It is eternal in nature. It deals with the gospel and the church and what God has called every Christian to do. It is far more important than jobs, money, family, vacation, reputation, or education. The task is the same for all. We are to work in God’s vineyard. Then of course, he said go work today. This shows the sense of urgency and the priority of doing this kind of kingdom work. In a very real way, this metaphor teaches us how important the task is and how we must organize our lives and prioritize our time, finances, and talents around it. It is our life’s mission. It is urgent. It is the most important thing.

Response

The two different responses inform us of what God sees in our obedience – or lack thereof – to him. The first son demonstrates God’s grace to us. Even though the first son initially neglected to do what the father asked, he changed his mind and began to do what he was bidden to do. I think that demonstrates repentance and grace. To repent means to change your mind. That comes through faith and allowing God’s Spirit to speak to us. It shows us that even though none of us is perfect or starts out in right relationship to God, we can all respond to the Father’s voice and begin to do his will. It also expresses the importance of God’s grace. God is not finished with you yet!

The response from the second son is deeply convicting to me. I take a differing view than some. I don’t think the second son had the wrong intentions. I don’t think he necessarily lied on purpose. I think he had good intentions, but he failed to act on those intentions. How many of us have good intentions concerning working in God’s vineyard? It is not that we don’t want to, it is just that we fail to prioritize things the way we should. Perhaps our schedule distracts us. Maybe we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are too busy. It could be that we think that we are not talented enough, or important enough to make any real difference in God’s Kingdom. Some people think that there is too much sin or failure in their past. We can even be distracted by politics, arguments, and social media. The point is, however, despite his intentions, he disobeyed. He omitted

the important things in his life because he failed to prioritize them. He sacrificed what is best on the altar of good intentions.

Jesus asked a very important question at the end of his story. Which son did the will of the father? God has called every one of his children to work in his vineyard. He has called you. Which son or daughter will you be? Will you be the one who realizes that you need to repent or change your mind? Will you receive God’s grace to empower you, no matter how long you may have procrastinated? Or will you be the son or daughter who is deceived? Don’t make excuses. Rest in God’s grace and prioritize working in God’s vineyard today.