2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. Here is a large vineyard. Many men and maidens are busy on the hillside. They are coming and going, and singing the vintage songs. Here is the master. He sees that the rules are kept. There must be no disorder, no profanity. Each must keep his place. The baskets must be clean. The master is counting the baskets that are brought to the vats. After each name he writes the number of baskets brought. At last the week is ended, and the men and maidens come to receive their pay. Here among them is a man whom the master has been watching day by day. He kept his basket clean; he kept his place; he used no profane language; he enjoyed the companionship of the others; he joined merrily in the vintage songs. But in all this time he gathered no grapes. "What is your name?" says the master. "Menalque," says the man. "I find your name upon the book," replies the master, "but I do not find that you gathered a single cluster; there is therefore no pay for you." "No pay?" says the man. "What have I done wrong? I have kept my place, used no improper language, kept my basket clean, and joined heartily in the songs." "You did no wrong," says the master, "but you did no work. There is nothing for you." "No pay for me!" exclaimed the man. "Why, that is the one thing I came in the vineyard for. The pay constituted my chief interest in it." Is not this the history of thousands in the Lord's vineyard? They come, their names are upon the book. They do no special wrong; they do not swear, or steal, or commit adultery. They break no rule. They sing the vintage songs. They hear sermons, if they are entertaining. They attend church, if it is quite convenient. But are they in any true sense labourers in God's vineyard? Have they done any honest work for Christ and His Church? Have they performed one hard task, done one unpleasant duty, spoken one brave word, lifted one fallen sinner, lightened one heavy burden, crucified one loved comfort, or done any one thing or series of things that would justly entitle them to the name of labourer, or the hope of reward when the great day of reckoning comes? (R. S. Barrett.) Parallel Verses KJV: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. |
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