Matthew 25:28-31
What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?
The word later usually has a negative connotation. It is used to delay doing the task that is at hand. Can you just hear the echoes of a child responding to a request by their mother; “Later Mom.” That later often becomes never as the frustrated mother gives in and does the job herself. We of course have never done that. Right!
The parable that Jesus relates in today’s Scripture has several facets. One of those is that it is never too late to change a LATER into a NOW. It does not matter how long we have delayed in doing the right thing, our actions speak louder than words.
I am so glad that the Lord is patient with us. We may fall short of the commitments we have made, or we may have refused to even make commitments, either way, He is always waiting for us to trust Him and follow when He leads us. Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Procrastination always leads to disappointment. This is true for the ones who have asked us to do something, but also for ourselves. I think it is time for us to take a moment and search our memory banks for promises that we have not acted upon.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil