www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Which Worker are You?

One day our Lord asked me if I wanted to work in His Vineyard. I gave Him and enthusiastic “YES”, I most certainly did. He then explained that I would be paid most generously after the Harvest was completed, and that He would take care of my needs until then.

So, the next morning at sunrise I entered the main gate of the Vineyard. I could see it was very large and by the number of other people entering it was obvious we had our work cut out for us.

After working for a while, it became very obvious we needed a lot more help if we were to make the most of the Harvest. As He was about directing His workers, I yelled for Him to come over to me because I wanted to talk to Him.

I said “Lord, the Harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” He agreed. So I asked Him if I could go out to the road and spend some time stopping cars and asking people if they would give us a hand. He told me to go ahead and try.

I stopped the first car that came by. I said “we need help. The harvest is ready but we need more workers”. The person laughed and drove off. It seemed to me that this person only cared about themself.

The next car I stopped was more interested. The person asked what the pay was and after I explained what Jesus had told me. He laughed and drove off. It seemed to me that this person only cared about how much and when they would get paid, and not about the Harvest.

I stopped another car. This person asked what the job pays and so I explained. The person said OK, parked his car and went into the vineyard to work. About an hour later he came up to me and explained that he had to leave because he had “things to do”. It seemed to me that this person was putting his worldly interests ahead of the Harvest.

Then I stopped another car and asked the person the same question. They asked what the job pays. I explained and he said he would be happy to work in the vineyard and parked his car and went to work. This person impressed me as someone who would trust the promise of payment by the Owner.

Then there were cars I stopped where the person said “sorry” and gave me a smile and drove off and other people who said they were busy but would try to stop by tomorrow and lend a hand. I didn’t know what to make of these responses but it seemed to me they didn’t care about the Harvest.

Then there was the person who didn’t ask any questions and went to work immediately and worked hard every day until the Harvest was completed. This person impressed me as only caring about the Harvest.

So, if I stopped you and told you that we needed help with the Harvest, what would you say?

Oppositeman,

Can you please tell us the purpose of this post?

Is it one you wrote or did you copy it from somewhere? If you copied from somewhere please identify where you took it from and why you think it necessary to post here.

I ask this because some of your prior posts were taken from a sources that are condemned by a bishop. That doesn't mean the specific things you copied were bad, but there are plenty of good places to partake of spiritual food and it's always best to simply avoid the places that are known for problems. [Why people eat at places known to serve rotten food is beyond me, especially when there are plenty of other places to eat.]

Best wishes,

Admin John

John - I wrote this post myself and I will not post anything here that isn't written by myself. That is the truth.

I'm not sure what you are saying - is it that the post has no value to help people think about doing their Christian duty to work in the vineyard? or is it that it's posted in the wrong forum or is it that there is no place on this site that it belongs?

I understand your concern and I have no problem with complying with the direction of the administration.

Peace to you,
Charles De Vita

Charles,

I'm suggesting that we don't know you, and that we do know that you've posted content from condemned sites in the past and because of it we are now concerned that you might regularly choose to eat at places that serve bad spiritual fruit. We are afraid that bad spiritual fruit might affect you and that we have no reason to trust you as you have not yet earned our trust.

That doesn't mean what you posted above is bad, but that we wonder why you think we need to hear that particular message?

You asked:
Currently, I can only reply that we do not know you, and that we are already at work serving the Lord in His vineyard (or we are at least trying to). How is it that you come to us and ask us to help at a harvest when you do not yet know us or if and how we might already be serving?

Look at it this way. If someone knocked at your door would you bother to listen to them? And if he told you the story you posted above, would you follow him without finding out who he is? He could be a well intentioned member of a cult, that when you came to know him you would wish to avoid him. Since we don't yet know you we can't know how to understand you. Too many people say "judge me by what I write" but many people (be they in cults or just malformed orthodox Christians) say the same thing. A much better approach is to join the general conversations and show us that your views are orthodox, and earn the respect of being listened to when you offer spiritual advice.

Best wishes!

John