My husband and I didn’t pick the smartest week of the year to get married. We were juniors in college and got married two weeks before classes started. On one hand, we prepared all summer, on the other, we had little time to squeeze in a honeymoon before school and jobs started up again.
Between moving in to our new apartment, working part-time, and full-time school, writing thank-you notes for our wedding gifts fell to the bottom of my to-do list. Month after month went by, and it was Christmas break before I seriously thought about them again. By that time, I was just plain embarrassed to send out notes. My closest family received them, but I neglected the rest.
That breach of etiquette has bothered me for 25 years. It probably explains why I’m a stickler for my children and me to write thank you notes for every gift. In hindsight, I should have sent out the notes at Christmas. Truly “better late than never” should have been my guiding principle.
Jesus spoke about a similar principle in the parable of two sons (Matthew 21:28-32). Both were asked to work in the vineyard by their father. One said “no,” but changed his mind and went. The other said “yes,” but didn’t go. Jesus asked the poignant question, “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” The answer was the first.
Jesus used this parable to show the religious leaders that the “tax collectors and the prostitutes” were entering the kingdom of God ahead of them. The religious leaders professed to obey God in their heart and actions, but they didn’t. I think this is a principle we can apply to our everyday life.
Many times we know God is calling us to do something. It could be to share our faith with a co-worker or family member. Perhaps God has been tugging on our hearts to increase our financial giving. Maybe we need to take a leap of faith and change careers, go back to school, or do mission work. We say “yes” when God first prompts us, but then do nothing. Time goes by, and we think, “It’s too late now.”
Unfortunately, that type of thinking leads to disobedience. This parable shows us that it’s never too late to obey God. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or what you’ve done since God first asked you to do something. It doesn’t even matter if you’ve stomped your foot, crossed your arms, and told God “no.” Today you can make your Father happy by doing His will.
We serve a gracious God who doesn’t hold our disobedience against us. We may need to confess it as sin, but when we do, it’s as good as gone. If God has asked you to work in the “vineyard” and you’ve said no, or delayed obedience, make today the day you get to work. I wonder if I still have that wedding gift-list
